Deborah L. Johanson
Papers
10
Total Citations
357
H-Index
9
About
Deborah L. Johanson is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction, specializing in the design of socially assistive robots for healthcare settings. Her work focuses on developing robots that can effectively support older adults with mild cognitive impairment and dementia, as well as function as receptionists and assistants in clinical environments. Johanson’s major contributions include identifying key communication behaviors—such as smiling, using first names, displaying attentional cues, and employing humor—that significantly improve user perceptions, trust, and satisfaction. Her most cited paper (107 citations) explores user needs for home-based healthcare robots, while her randomized controlled trial on robot attentional behaviors (35 citations) provides rigorous evidence for design guidelines. With over 350 total citations across her top papers, Johanson’s research has practical impact, demonstrated by the development of the HealthBots system and her 2025 study on empathetic robots in hospitals. Her work bridges engineering and psychology, offering actionable insights for creating robots that are not only functional but also socially competent and accepted by patients and healthcare professionals.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 8The Doctor will See You Now: Could a Robot Be a medical Receptionist?15 citations · 2019
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