Validating characterizations of sociality in HRI

Abstract

As the HRI field evolves, researchers increasingly seek to provide characterizations of sociality in human-robot interaction. But how does one assess whether the characterizations are valid? Using design work on “interaction patterns” as a case in point, this paper offers 5 approaches toward establishing validity: psychometric, literary, modelling, philosophical, and structural. We argue that when it comes to validating characterizations of sociality in HRI, too often people ask for evidence of psychometric validity, without clarity of what that involves, and without awareness of the benefits of these other approaches.