When do individuals choose care robots over a human caregiver? Insights from a laboratory experiment on choices under uncertainty
Demographic changes and a predicted shortage of nursing staff are progressively putting pressure on the healthcare system. Care robots may represent one part of a possible solution to this problem as they can assist care work. However, large parts of the population are reportedly skeptical about rob...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Computers in Human Behavior Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958822000926 |
| _version_ | 1811162732421971968 |
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| author | Julia A. Hoppe Outi Tuisku Rose-Marie Johansson-Pajala Satu Pekkarinen Lea Hennala Christine Gustafsson Helinä Melkas Kirsten Thommes |
| author_facet | Julia A. Hoppe Outi Tuisku Rose-Marie Johansson-Pajala Satu Pekkarinen Lea Hennala Christine Gustafsson Helinä Melkas Kirsten Thommes |
| author_sort | Julia A. Hoppe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Demographic changes and a predicted shortage of nursing staff are progressively putting pressure on the healthcare system. Care robots may represent one part of a possible solution to this problem as they can assist care work. However, large parts of the population are reportedly skeptical about robotics in care, and field studies are difficult to conduct due to the low prevalence of real robotics in the field. Therefore, we follow an experimental approach pertaining to the question of individual decision-making. In this regard, we analyze the aspects that influence the individual’s choice between a care robot and a human caregiver for assistance in their daily life. Our economic experiment is conducted in a virtual laboratory to examine specifically how quality uncertainty of care affects individual’s decisions for and against robotic care. In the experiment, 162 participants fully completed the experiment in which they were asked to repeatedly choose between a human caregiver and a care robot. Our results reveal that, overall, the care robot is chosen more often than a human caregiver. At the same time, the quality uncertainty of care linked to a human caregiver barely affected the choice of participants. On the other hand, a participant’s health status and their attitude toward direct interactions with care robots did partially affect their choice. Additionally, we explored causes for indecisiveness and its effect on the choice. Here, we found indecisive participants tending to choose a human caregiver more often. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:34:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a4355d3a4c74c3fbf97f2a3b8fbb0a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2451-9588 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:34:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Computers in Human Behavior Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a4355d3a4c74c3fbf97f2a3b8fbb0a82023-03-01T04:32:38ZengElsevierComputers in Human Behavior Reports2451-95882023-03-019100258When do individuals choose care robots over a human caregiver? Insights from a laboratory experiment on choices under uncertaintyJulia A. Hoppe0Outi Tuisku1Rose-Marie Johansson-Pajala2Satu Pekkarinen3Lea Hennala4Christine Gustafsson5Helinä Melkas6Kirsten Thommes7Paderborn University, Organizational Behavior, Warburger Strasse 100, 33100, Paderborn, GermanyTampere University of Applied Sciences, Kuntokatu 3, 33520, Tampere, FinlandMälardalen University, School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, P.O 325, 63105, Eskilstuna, SwedenLappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, School of Engineering Science, Mukkulankatu 19, 15210, Lahti, FinlandLappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, School of Engineering Science, Mukkulankatu 19, 15210, Lahti, FinlandMälardalen University, School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, P.O 325, 63105, Eskilstuna, Sweden; Sophiahemmet University, Department of Nursing Science, P.O 5605, 114 86, StockholmLappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, School of Engineering Science, Mukkulankatu 19, 15210, Lahti, FinlandPaderborn University, Organizational Behavior, Warburger Strasse 100, 33100, Paderborn, Germany; Corresponding author.Demographic changes and a predicted shortage of nursing staff are progressively putting pressure on the healthcare system. Care robots may represent one part of a possible solution to this problem as they can assist care work. However, large parts of the population are reportedly skeptical about robotics in care, and field studies are difficult to conduct due to the low prevalence of real robotics in the field. Therefore, we follow an experimental approach pertaining to the question of individual decision-making. In this regard, we analyze the aspects that influence the individual’s choice between a care robot and a human caregiver for assistance in their daily life. Our economic experiment is conducted in a virtual laboratory to examine specifically how quality uncertainty of care affects individual’s decisions for and against robotic care. In the experiment, 162 participants fully completed the experiment in which they were asked to repeatedly choose between a human caregiver and a care robot. Our results reveal that, overall, the care robot is chosen more often than a human caregiver. At the same time, the quality uncertainty of care linked to a human caregiver barely affected the choice of participants. On the other hand, a participant’s health status and their attitude toward direct interactions with care robots did partially affect their choice. Additionally, we explored causes for indecisiveness and its effect on the choice. Here, we found indecisive participants tending to choose a human caregiver more often.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958822000926HealthcareCare robotHuman caregiverDemographic change |
| spellingShingle | Julia A. Hoppe Outi Tuisku Rose-Marie Johansson-Pajala Satu Pekkarinen Lea Hennala Christine Gustafsson Helinä Melkas Kirsten Thommes When do individuals choose care robots over a human caregiver? Insights from a laboratory experiment on choices under uncertainty Computers in Human Behavior Reports Healthcare Care robot Human caregiver Demographic change |
| title | When do individuals choose care robots over a human caregiver? Insights from a laboratory experiment on choices under uncertainty |
| title_full | When do individuals choose care robots over a human caregiver? Insights from a laboratory experiment on choices under uncertainty |
| title_fullStr | When do individuals choose care robots over a human caregiver? Insights from a laboratory experiment on choices under uncertainty |
| title_full_unstemmed | When do individuals choose care robots over a human caregiver? Insights from a laboratory experiment on choices under uncertainty |
| title_short | When do individuals choose care robots over a human caregiver? Insights from a laboratory experiment on choices under uncertainty |
| title_sort | when do individuals choose care robots over a human caregiver insights from a laboratory experiment on choices under uncertainty |
| topic | Healthcare Care robot Human caregiver Demographic change |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958822000926 |
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