Talking Robots: a Critical Examination of Strategies for Public Engagement with Robotic Technologies, 2007-2008

DOI

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

Robotics encompasses a broad range of academic disciplines including engineering, biology, neuroscience, psychology and artificial intelligence. It is a significant area of emerging science, and one where views regarding fact and fiction are particularly confused. Talking Robots aimed to investigate existing public attitudes to robotic technologies and their potential social impacts, alongside an examination of engagement strategies and their effectiveness, using robotics engagement events as examples. The project utilised the Walking with Robots network which is an existing series of events generated by prominent UK-based roboticists and science communicators and funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Participant reactions to a series of 11 engagement events with a robotic focus were studied. Structured in-depth observations were made of the engagement events examining both verbal and non-verbal communication. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three distinctive groups: 1) event organisers who arranged the activities, 2) engagers or experts that were involved in the activities, and 3) audience participants or people engaged in activities. Further information can be found on the ESRC award web page.

Main Topics:

The interviews cover:perceptions of robotsmotivations for taking part in the science activitypublic involvement in science and technologyThe observations cover:the audience (age, numbers) the venue (accessibility, environment, issues of entry and exit)the event (timings, presenters, audience activity and response)chronological notesvenue diagram

Purposive selection/case studies

Convenience sample

Face-to-face interview

Telephone interview

Observation

Identifier
DOI https://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-6307-1
Metadata Access https://datacatalogue.cessda.eu/oai-pmh/v0/oai?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=oai_ddi25&identifier=590ce74e79680cd79d0011c602368030c2841790fcef8b67d4947187a537e9a9
Provenance
Creator Wilkinson, C., University of the West of England, Bristol, Science Communication Unit; Bultitude, K., University of the West of England, Bristol, Science Communication Unit; Dawson, E., University of the West of England, Bristol, Science Communication Unit
Publisher UK Data Service
Publication Year 2009
Funding Reference Economic and Social Research Council
Rights Copyright University of the West of England, Bristol. Science Communication Unit; <p>The Data Collection is available to UK Data Service registered users subject to the <a href="https://ukdataservice.ac.uk/app/uploads/cd137-enduserlicence.pdf" target="_blank">End User Licence Agreement</a>.</p><p>Commercial use of the data requires approval from the data owner or their nominee. The UK Data Service will contact you.</p>
OpenAccess true
Representation
Resource Type Text; Semi-structured interview transcripts; Structured observation notes
Discipline Construction Engineering and Architecture; Engineering; Engineering Sciences
Spatial Coverage Greater London; North East England; South West England; England