Construction and application of evaluation index system of accessibility of public digital cultural services in rural areas: A three-stage study from China

With the comprehensive enhancement of rural internet infrastructure and the continuous increase in internet penetration rates, China's public cultural service system has achieved significant results. However, salient issues such as low accessibility, a pronounced mismatch between supply and demand, and an underdeveloped evaluation mechanism remain. This study aims to effectively solve the accessibility obstacles of rural public digital cultural services (RPDCS) by constructing and applying a comprehensive evaluation index system. Accordingly, this study employs an integrated approach combining grounded theory, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and the Analytic Hierarchy Process-Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (AHP-FCE) method to develop an evaluation index system for the accessibility of RPDCS, which is subsequently explored and applied empirically. This study proposes a multidimensional “5A” evaluation framework that incorporates user behavior dynamics and cultural identity, thereby theoretically moving beyond technical accessibility and establishing a new paradigm for public digital cultural services research. On a practical level, it proposes a closed-loop optimization pathway that utilizes feedback mechanisms to enhance resource utilization efficiency and user satisfaction, thereby improving service accessibility and contributing to the construction of a sustainable ecosystem for rural digital cultural services.