[Colloquium] Alex Wuqi Zhang MS Presentation/May 3, 2023

[Megan Woodward]

This is an announcement of Alex Wuqi Zhang's MS Presentation
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Candidate: Wuqi Zhang

Date: Wednesday, May 03, 2023

Time:  9 am CST

Location: JCL 011

M.S. Paper Title: Ice-Breaking Technology: Robots and Computers Can Foster Meaningful Connections between Strangers through In-Person Conversations

Abstract: Despite the clear benefts that social connection ofers to well-being, strangers in close physical proximity regularly ignore each other due to their tendency to underestimate the positive consequences of social connection. In a between-subjects study (N = 49 pairs, 98 participants), we investigated the efectiveness of a humanoid robot, a computer screen, and a poster at stimulating meaningful, face-to- face conversations between two strangers by posing progressively deeper questions. We found that the humanoid robot facilitator was able to elicit the greatest compliance with the deep conversation questions. Additionally, participants in conversations facilitated by either the humanoid robot or the computer screen reported greater happiness and connection to their conversation partner than those in conversations facilitated by a poster. These results suggest that technology-enabled conversation facilitators can be useful in breaking the ice between strangers, ultimately helping them develop closer connections through face-to-face conversations and thereby enhance their overall well-being.


Advisors: Sarah Sebo

Committee Members: Marshini Chetty, Sarah Sebo, and Ken Nakagaki


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