'THIS ISN'T ME!': the role of age-related self- and user images for robot acceptance by elders

  • Although companion-type robots are already commercially available, little interest has been taken in identifying reasons for inter-individual differences in their acceptance. Elders’ age-related perceptions of both their own self (self-image) and of the general older robot user (user image) could play a relevant role in this context. Since little is known to date about elders’ companion-type robot user image, it is one aim of this study to investigate its age-related facets, concentrating on possibly stigmatizing perceptions of elder robot users. The study also addresses the association between elders’ age-related self-image and robot acceptance: Is the association independent of the user image or not? To investigate these research questions, N = 28 adults aged 63 years and older were introduced to the companion-type robot Pleo. Afterwards, several markers of robot acceptance were assessed. Actual and ideal self- and subjective robot user image were assessed by a study-specific semantic differential on the stereotype dimensions of warmth and competence. Results show that participants tended to stigmatize elder robot users. The self-images were not directly related to robot acceptance, but affected it in the context of the user image. A higher fit between self- and user image was associated with higher perceived usefulness, social acceptance, and intention to use the robot. To conclude, elders’ subjective interpretations of new technologies play a relevant role for their acceptance. Together with elders’ individual self-images, they need to be considered in both robot development and implementation. Future research should consider that associations between user characteristics and robot acceptance by elders can be complex and easily overlooked.
Metadaten
Author:Melanie DudekORCiD, Stefanie BaischORCiDGND, Monika KnopfORCiDGND, Thorsten KollingGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-636581
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-020-00678-1
ISSN:1875-4805
Parent Title (English):International Journal of Social Robotics
Publisher:Springer Netherlands
Place of publication:Dordrecht [u.a.]
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2020/10/27
Date of first Publication:2020/10/27
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2022/07/05
Tag:Assistive technology; Companion-type robots; Disengagement research; Robot acceptance; Self-Congruity Theory
Volume:13.2020
Issue:6
Page Number:15
First Page:1173
Last Page:1187
Note:
Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.
HeBIS-PPN:497556219
Institutes:Psychologie und Sportwissenschaften
Dewey Decimal Classification:1 Philosophie und Psychologie / 15 Psychologie / 150 Psychologie
6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 62 Ingenieurwissenschaften / 620 Ingenieurwissenschaften und zugeordnete Tätigkeiten
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - Namensnennung 4.0