Making judgments about robots and people

For 6- to 9-year-olds in the United States.

This study will take place on a video call, live with a researcher! Clicking on the “Schedule a time to participate” button will send you to an online calendar where you can select a date and time that works for you

Children who participate in this study will listen to characters answer questions about a picture or a word, and then will be asked to give their opinions of those characters (e.g., who they like more; who is nicer; who is smarter). They will also answer some basic questions about themselves, such as how often they change their mind about things or how likely they are to listen to others' opinions.

Children readily form impressions of others, which affects who they trust, who they turn to with their questions, and who they view as knowledgeable. The purpose of this study is to understand the characteristics that inform children's impressions of others. Past research has shown that children pick up on a variety of different qualities that, in some situations, conflict with each other: confidence and expertise, as well as kindness and benevolence. Are there certain contexts in which children value one social domain over the other? Does this evaluation change over development? Does it differ depending on whether others are humans or robots?

This research will provide a greater understanding of what children value in social partners, such as teachers, peers, and parents, which informs effective communication styles in educational and social contexts, especially in the context of emerging technologies such as AI robots.

20 minutes

$10 Amazon.com gift card. You will be sent an Amazon.com gift card by email within 48 hours of participating in the study. To receive compensation, you must meet all of the following eligibility criteria: (1) You are located in the United States, (2) Your child falls within the age range indicated for this study, (3) Your child has not participated in this study before, (4) You provide valid written consent.