Exploring Empathetic Interactions: The Impact of Sound and Reactions in Human-Robot Relations Among University Students

This study investigates the impact of sound and emotional expressions in a social robot on empathy development in human-robot interactions. The experiment included 83 participants randomly assigned to four experimental groups: NSNE (No Sound, No Emotions), SE (Sound, Emotions), NSE (No Sound, Emotions), and NES (No Emotions, Sound). The participants watched a unique video featuring a social robot navigating routine scenarios in a domestic setting, with the robot’s manifestation of sound and emotions aligned with the experimental group’s characteristics. Subsequently, participants completed an online survey with a set of qualitative and quantitative questions, including 40 specific queries assessing empathy towards robots on a scale from 1 to 5. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in Empathy Scores across the groups (F (3, 79) = 4.222, p = 0.008). Age and gender did not significantly influence Empathy Score, but previous interaction with robots exhibited a significant effect with a 90% confidence level (p < 0.1). This study underscores the role of sounds and emotional expressions in shaping human empathy toward robots, offering insights into the design of future social robots across diverse contexts. Future research should delve into specific elements of sound and emotion that most effectively enhance empathetic responses.