This experiment was conducted to determine interpersonal impressions of two types of compliance-gaining strategies (warning and obligation) used to ask for the consideration of robot rights. Findings demonstrated that the strategy of obligation produced higher levels of petitioner perceived caring (a factor of source credibility) and higher perceptions of task attraction. Social attraction, competence, and character did not significantly differ by type of message strategy utilized.

Although both HRI and Communication Science often trace their origins to the transdisciplinary cybernetics of the 20th century, they have since developed in relative isolation, with scant scholarly exchange concerning the similarities and differences in their assumptions, insights, and approaches. The purpose of this half-day workshop is to explore the ways in which traditional communication theory and Human-Machine Communication theory from the discipline of Communication Science can be applied and be utilized in HRI studies.

The current study examines the pratfall effect and interpersonal impressions of how humans perceive robots that appear forgetful and apologetic regarding information given to them by a human. Results demonstrated that the non-forgetful robot was perceived higher for interpersonal impressions when compared to the forgetful and forgetful apologizing robots.

The purpose of this study was to test the strength of the machine heuristic; specifically when suspicion is primed in a message receiver concerning the veracity of information from a robot delivering news. Results demonstrate that low suspicion led to higher credibility evaluations, which consequently increased behavioral intentions. Findings are discussed in light of the MAIN model.

Extending previous research on the human-to-human interaction script, the MAIN model, and the Computers Are Social Actors (CASA) paradigm, this study examines the influence of weather-related communication sources with varying levels of expertise and agency cues (i.e. human versus bot) on impressions of communication quality. Specifically, an experimental design was used to measure people’s impressions of source credibility, task and social attraction, computer-mediated communication competence, and intent to interact in the future for three information sources: a professional meteorologist, an amateur meteorologist, and a weather Twitterbot. Results demonstrated similar perceptions of communication quality for the three Twitter agents. However, the Twitterbot was rated as significantly less socially attractive than the professional meteorologist and as significantly more task attractive than the amateur meteorologist delivering the same messages. Agency-related cues appear to trigger heuristics that account for these differences in perception. Implications for the use of Twitterbots in weather-related and information-sharing contexts are discussed.