Research Highlights
How do humans perceive and interact with social robots?
Robots are increasingly being integrated into homes, schools, and public spaces. How do humans perceive and interact with social robots? And how can we design robots that are trustworthy, reliable, and likable to people?
How do robot movements shape human social attributions?
Two pre-registered online experiments. Manuscript in preparation.
SMPC’22 Student Research Award finalist
What are parents’ beliefs about children's robots in the home?
Study 1. Frontiers in Robotics and AI (2021). [pdf]
Study 2: A longitudinal study with robot intervention in natural home environments, employing a mixed-methods approach (pre-posttest, daily logs, surveys, and interviews).
🏆 ICSR’24 Best Short Paper Award
Itchy, Scratchy: A musical robot for children's piano practicing
Designed an affordable robot, named Itchy and Scratchy, to help children practice piano outside the classroom. A user study demonstrated that Itchy and Scratchy served as an economical, effective, and engaging tool for musical learning.
How does technology facilitate or hinder learning?
Technological innovations are designed to make everyday life more convenient and enjoyable. But how do they support or hinder human development and learning?
Children's learning about the visual perspectives of others
Three pre-registered experiments were conducted, with data collected over Zoom from 4- to 6-year-old children recruited through Children Helping Science (Lookit). Manuscript in preparation.
💵 This work is funded by the UCSD Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion.
Children's judgment and exploratory behaviors in augmented reality
Two pre-registered experiments were conducted with data collected from 3- to 7-year-old children at a local science museum and preschools. Manuscript in preparation.
💵 This work is funded by the UCSD Senate Research Grant program.
Self-directed learning in Minecraft classrooms
Interviewed teachers and students using Minecraft in education. Findings showed Minecraft motivates learning through customizable contexts, immersive stories, and role-playing. Proposed design recommendations for informal online learning spaces.
How do humans experience emotions with artificial agents?
Digital games create immersive and believable experiences for players. How do players emotionally connect with artificial agents in games?
User types and design opportunities of virtual reality pet games
Studied how real pet bonds shape expectations for VR animals. An online survey and lab study revealed perception, motivation, and expectation differences between pet owners and non-owners, identifying three user types to guide VR pet game design.
A model of emotional arousal in computer game players
Conducted a systematic literature review and developed a theoretical model based on flow theory, interactive drama, and emotion theories.
🏆 Best Undergraduate Graduation Thesis