Exploring the Role of Sociability, Ownership, and Affinity for Technology in Shaping Acceptance and Intention to Use Personal Assistance Robots.

Personal assistance robots are making inroads into daily life, yet many people remain unfamiliar and hesitant to accept and use them. This scenario-based online experiment examined how robot sociability (low vs. high), ownership (private vs. public), and users’ affinity for technology influence acceptance and intention to use a robot for grocery shopping. Participants also chose a preferred robot morphology (technical vs. anthropomorphic) for supermarket use. Results showed higher acceptance for low-sociability robots and that a higher affective affinity for technology predicted both acceptance and intention to use. In high sociability conditions, participants preferred more anthropomorphic robots. Findings emphasize task-specific robot design beyond functional considerations.

Eileen Roesler, Sophie Rudolph, Felix Wilhelm Siebert