Problem
Research questions and friction points this paper is trying to address.
social robotics
engagement metrics
autism
human-robot interaction
ecological validity
Beyond Usability: A UX Case Study on Using "Withdrawal Design" to Challenge Engagement Metrics in Social Robotics
🤖 AI Summary
This study addresses the overreliance on engagement metrics in evaluating social robots for autistic children, which may obscure adverse effects on genuine social interaction skills. Proposing a novel “withdrawal design,” the research conducted an 8-week home-based randomized controlled trial to compare continuous robot use against robot withdrawal. Effects on child anxiety, social motivation, and emotion recognition were assessed through quantitative measures (SCARED/RCADS, SMS/RMET, SUS) and in-depth caregiver interviews. Findings indicate that while sustained robot interaction reduced anxiety, it concurrently diminished social motivation and emotion recognition abilities. Notably, some children shifted toward human-centered interactions following robot withdrawal, suggesting that high system usability may mask ecologically detrimental outcomes. These results challenge prevailing technology evaluation paradigms centered on retention and engagement.
📝 Abstract
Social robots for children with autism are often evaluated through engagement and interaction quality, assuming the robot acts as a social scaffold. We report a mixed-methods "withdrawal" study that tests a harder question: what changes when the robot is removed. In an 8-week home-based randomized controlled trial (N=40), children either retained a consumer social robot (Qrobot) or had it withdrawn after initial use. Quantitatively, continued access reduced anxiety (SCARED/RCADS), yet was associated with lower parent-reported social motivation and weaker gains in emotion recognition (SMS/RMET) compared to withdrawal. Interviews with guardians contextualized this divergence: removal sometimes prompted children to seek human interaction, while continued use could keep social behavior siloed within the child-robot dyad, despite exceptionally high usability (SUS). We synthesize a UXR point of view: for vulnerable users, "engagement" can mask ecological downsides. Success should be judged not by retention, but by designed separation that bridges back to human relationships.
Innovation
Methods, ideas, or system contributions that make the work stand out.
withdrawal design
social robotics
engagement metrics
autism intervention
human-robot interaction
🔎 Similar Papers
No similar papers found.
