Service robots’ anthropomorphism: dimensions, factors and internal relationships

Shengliang Zhang, Xinfeng Lin, Xiaodong Li () and Ai Ren ()
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Shengliang Zhang: University of Science and Technology of China
Xinfeng Lin: University of Science and Technology of China
Xiaodong Li: Anhui Polytechnic University
Ai Ren: State University of New York at New Paltz

Electronic Markets, 2022, vol. 32, issue 1, No 17, 277-295

Abstract: Abstract Robots have been widely used in social production, especially in the service industry. As their use continues to spread, their anthropomorphic design, which increases a robot’s efficiency and effectiveness in terms of human–robot interaction, becomes increasingly important. Based on grounded theory, this study encodes one-to-one in-depth interview data, and constructs a theoretical model of service robots’ anthropomorphism. The results show that service robots’ anthropomorphism comprises four dimensions: mission completion (core), user sensory experience (external manifestation), artificial intelligence (guarantee), and unique human characteristics (promotion). Meanwhile, a linkage between the dimensions and factors is proposed. This study thus systematically elucidates service robots’ anthropomorphism. The findings provide some implications for practitioners to design anthropomorphic robots and develop tools for evaluating anthropomorphism, corresponding factors and potential influences.

Keywords: Service robot; Anthropomorphism; In-depth interview; Grounded theory; Word frequency analysis; Theoretical model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: M39 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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DOI: 10.1007/s12525-022-00527-1

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