Can I Trust You? A User Study on Robot-Mediated Support Groups
📝 Original Paper Info
- Title: Can I Trust You? A User Study of Robot Mediation of a Support Group- ArXiv ID: 2002.04671
- Date: 2020-10-23
- Authors: Chris Birmingham, Zijian Hu, Kartik Mahajan, Eli Reber, and Maja J Mataric
📝 Abstract
Socially assistive robots have the potential to improve group dynamics when interacting with groups of people in social settings. This work contributes to the understanding of those dynamics through a user study of trust dynamics in the novel context of a robot mediated support group. For this study, a novel framework for robot mediation of a support group was developed and validated. To evaluate interpersonal trust in the multi-party setting, a dyadic trust scale was implemented and found to be uni-factorial, validating it as an appropriate measure of general trust. The results of this study demonstrate a significant increase in average interpersonal trust after the group interaction session, and qualitative post-session interview data report that participants found the interaction helpful and successfully supported and learned from one other. The results of the study validate that a robot-mediated support group can improve trust among strangers and allow them to share and receive support for their academic stress.💡 Summary & Analysis
This paper explores how trust is formed among individuals in a group setting mediated by robots. The researchers developed and validated a new framework for robot-mediated support groups to understand the dynamics of interpersonal trust formation better. They used a dyadic trust scale, which they found to be unifactorial, validating it as an appropriate measure of general trust. The study revealed that participants experienced a significant increase in average interpersonal trust following the group interaction session and reported finding the experience helpful for mutual support and learning.The paper highlights a novel approach to leveraging social robots not only for individual assistance but also for enhancing group dynamics, particularly in fostering trust among strangers. This research demonstrates the potential of robots as effective mediators in support groups, which can lead to better communication and cooperation among participants dealing with stressors such as academic pressures.
📄 Full Paper Content (ArXiv Source)
📊 논문 시각자료 (Figures)
