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    A quantitative analysis of public attitudes towards the fourth industrial revolution: an integrated technology adoption model in South Africa = Ukuhlaziywa kwesilinganiso sezimo zengqondo zomphakathi ngasohlangothini lwesine lwenguquko yezimboni: Ubuchwepheshe obudidiyelwe imodeli yokutholwa eNingizimu Afrikha.
    (2024) Mthombeni, Zama Mabel.; Mtapuri, Oliver.
    The impact of technology on society is a multifaceted and intricate issue in a rapidly changing world of constant technological advancements. The emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has sparked a growing debate regarding its potential opportunities and challenges for various societies. While robots have been utilized for over 50 years in previous industrial revolutions, their recent integration into domestic and different work environments through the 4IR is a modern development. Social robots are now deployed to perform tasks that were previously performed by humans and are used in scenarios where they must interact with people. Despite the significance of these changes for human development, there has been limited research on public attitudes towards such advancements of the 4IR in South Africa. This study investigated the relationship between micro-level sociological characteristics and attitudes towards the 4IR using survey data from the South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) among a sample of adult respondents (n=2736) in South Africa. The study adopted a positivist paradigm and a quantitative approach and sought to contribute to the understanding of public perceptions of the 4IR in South Africa. Existing attitudinal adoption models were reviewed, and the study used these to develop an integrated framework that harmonized these theories. This framework incorporated a dimension of micro-sociological indicators and categorized attitudes into two distinct categories. The use of micro-sociological indicators in the technology adoption model was an important approach that allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of public attitudes towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in South Africa at the micro-level. Unlike traditional adoption models that focus solely on macro-level factors such as economic and institutional conditions, micro-sociological indicators consider individual-level characteristics such as race, social class, knowledge, age, and gender. . The study findings revealed a distinct social class effect, highlighting heightened scepticism toward the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) among individuals in lower social classes, those with worker vulnerability, and those lacking internet access. A crucial recommendation is to challenge the prevailing narrative of elitism linked to technological progress and emphasizes targeted investments in historically marginalized communities. South Africa can learn from the experiences of other nations and consider implementing comprehensive strategies involving policy interventions, public-private partnerships, and social initiatives. Exploring the feasibility of universal basic income as a social safety net would be prudent, aligning with global trends in addressing the socio-economic impact of automation and technological advancements. Iqoqa. Umthelela wobuchwepheshe emphakathini wudaba olunezici eziningi futhi oluyinkimbinkimbi emhlabeni oshintsha ngokushesha onentuthuko eqhubekayo yobuchwepheshe. Ukuvela kweFourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) kuqubule inkulumompikiswano ekhulayo mayelana namathuba ayo nezinselelo ezingaba khona emiphakathini eyahlukene. Nakuba amarobhothi esetshenziswe iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-50 ezinguqukweni ezidlule zezimboni, ukuhlanganiswa kwawo kwakamuva ezindaweni zasekhaya nezahlukene nge-4IR kuyintuthuko yesimanje. Amarobhothi omphakathi manje asetshalwe ukwenza imisebenzi ebiyenziwa abantu phambilini futhi asetshenziswa ezimeni lapho kufanele ahlanganyele nabantu. Ngaphandle kokubaluleka kwalezi zinguquko ekuthuthukisweni komuntu, kube nocwaningo olulinganiselwe mayelana nezimo zomphakathi mayelana nokuthuthuka kwe-4IR eNingizimu Afrikha. Ucwaningo lwamukele i-pharadayimu ye-positivist kanye nendlela yobuningi futhi lwafuna ukufaka isandla ekuqondeni imibono yomphakathi ye-4IR eNingizimu Afrikha. Kwabuyekezwa amamodeli akhona okwamukela isimo sengqondo, futhi ucwaningo lwasebenzisa lezi ukuze kwakhiwe uhlaka oludidiyelwe oluvumelanisa le mibono. Lolu hlaka luhlanganise ubukhulu bezinkomba ze-micro-sociology kanye nezimo zengqondo ezihlukaniswe ngezigaba ezimbili ezihlukene. Ukusetshenziswa kwezinkomba ze-micro-sociological kumodeli yokwamukelwa kobuchwepheshe bekuyindlela ebalulekile eyavumela ukuqonda okubanzi kwezimo zengqondo zomphakathi mayelana ne-4IR eNingizimu Afrikha ezingeni elincane. Izinkomba ze-Micro-sociological zicabangela izici zezinga lomuntu ngamunye njengohlanga, isigaba senhlalo, ulwazi, ubudala, nobulili. Imiphumela yocwaningo iveze umphumela ohlukile wesigaba senhlalo, okugqamisa ukungabaza okukhulayo mayelana ne-Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) phakathi kwabantu abasezigabeni eziphansi zomphakathi, labo abasengozini yemisebenzi, nalabo abangenayo i-inthanethi. Isincomo esibalulekile ukubekela inselele ukulandisa okukhona kwe-elitism okuhlobene nenqubekelaphambili yezobuchwepheshe futhi kugcizelela ukutshalwa kwezimali okuhlosiwe emiphakathini eyayincishwe amathuba ngaphambilini. Ukuhlola ukuba nokwenzeka kwemali engenayo eyisisekelo jikelele njengenetha yokuphepha komphakathi kungaba ubuhlakani, ukuvumelanisa namathrendi omhlaba ekubhekaneni nomthelela wenhlalonhle-yomnotho wokuzenzakalela kanye nentuthuko yezobuchwepheshe.