TY - JOUR
T1 - Of robots and robotkind
T2 - Extending intergroup contact theory to social machines
AU - Haggadone, Brad A.
AU - Banks, Jaime
AU - Koban, Kevin
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research [FA9550-19-1-0006]. The authors thank Joshua Cloudy, Saydie French, Kailey Itri, Miranda Land, and Shane Garcia for their assistance with data collection and Kristina McCravey for technical and logistical support.
Funding Information:
Brad Haggadone (Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin) is a postdoctoral researcher for the Center of Communication Research at Texas Tech University. His research explores the role of technology in society with a focus on human robot interaction, online communities, and anonymity. He is currently conducting research on how humans interact with robots as part of the MARIA project, funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Eastern Communication Association.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - This study seeks to advance how intergroup dynamics can help us better understand the relations between humans and robots. Intergroup contact theory states that negative feelings toward an outgroup can be reduced through controlled intergroup contact. This study tests this theory by having study participants interact with either a human (member of the ingroup) or large humanoid robot (member of an outgroup) and measuring changes in social distance before and after the interaction. The findings suggest that robotkind is a distinct social group separate from humankind and as predicted by intergroup contact theory, exposure to a specific robot can override held prejudices against robots as a social group.
AB - This study seeks to advance how intergroup dynamics can help us better understand the relations between humans and robots. Intergroup contact theory states that negative feelings toward an outgroup can be reduced through controlled intergroup contact. This study tests this theory by having study participants interact with either a human (member of the ingroup) or large humanoid robot (member of an outgroup) and measuring changes in social distance before and after the interaction. The findings suggest that robotkind is a distinct social group separate from humankind and as predicted by intergroup contact theory, exposure to a specific robot can override held prejudices against robots as a social group.
KW - Intergroup contact theory
KW - human–machine communication
KW - ontological categorization
KW - social distance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103886956&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85103886956&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/08824096.2021.1909551
DO - 10.1080/08824096.2021.1909551
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85103886956
SN - 0882-4096
VL - 38
SP - 161
EP - 171
JO - Communication Research Reports
JF - Communication Research Reports
IS - 3
ER -