Can Prior Experience Influence Seating Comfort Ratings?

Abstract

Most research on product comfort focuses exclusively on the use of the evaluated product (e.g., Kyung, Nussbaum, & Babski-Reeves, 2008; Harih & Dolšak (2013). We sought
to investigate the influence of a sitting precondition on ratings for first impression of comfort, short-term comfort, and discomfort of a product. The aim was to assess if and
how sensations experienced prior to product use affected product evaluation. Therefore, a vehicle seat was evaluated with two preconditions in a withinsubjects design. The comfort model of Vink and Hallbeck was extended according to the findings of this study.