Publication Date

2019

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Gunkel, David J.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Communication

Abstract

This research is an attempt to investigate how a social robot is perceived by users at the first encounter. And to find out whether a social robot like Jibo is understood merely as a kind of a technological object or a social entity. Previous studies in Human-Robot Interaction have considered social presence as a mediator in users’ social responses toward robots; however, the focus of this study is the social presence itself and investigates whether Jibo produces a sense of presence during initial encounters. To this end, the current study examines individuals’ perceptions of and responses to Jibo. Participants (N=8) were exposed to Jibo individually and were interviewed immediately after their interaction with Jibo. The collected data are coded based on the four key characteristics that promote sociability in social robots. These characteristics are anthropomorphic forms and behaviors, emotion, embodiment, and personality. Coding of the data also includes the initial interpersonal interaction elements such as physical attributes, uncertainty, liking, and expectancy. Data are categorized based on the mentioned elements, and the specific ways that participants used these elements to explain their experience with Jibo. In the last chapter, interview results are analyzed and discussed to explain how Jibo is perceived by its first-time users.

Extent

59 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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