Sensitivity of Trust Scales in the Face of Errors

Abstract

Trust between humans and robots is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon and measuring it subjectively and reliably is challenging. It is also context dependent and so choosing the right tool for a specific study can prove difficult. This paper aims to evaluate various trust measures and compare them in terms of sensitivity to changes in trust. This is done by comparing two validated trust questionnaires (TAS and MDMT) and one single item assessment in a COVID-19 triage scenario. We found that trust measures are equivalent in terms of sensitivity to changes in trust. Furthermore, the study showed that trust could be measured similarly through a single item assessment in comparison with other lengthier scales, in scenarios with distinct breaks in trust. This finding would be of use for experiments where lengthy questionnaires are not appropriate, such as those in the wild.