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About

Denise Y. Geiskkovitch is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), with a focus on how people perceive, trust, and obey robots across different contexts. Her work spans critical areas including robot embodiment, obedience to robotic authority, child-robot trust, and emotional support robots for older adults. Geiskkovitch’s most cited paper, “Poor Thing! Would You Feel Sorry for a Simulated Robot?” (115 citations), examines how simulated versus physical robots affect user empathy and interaction, a foundational question for HRI methodology. Her influential obedience studies, including “Please Continue, We Need More Data” (45 citations), reveal that half of participants will comply with a robot’s commands even when reluctant, raising ethical questions about automation. She has also pioneered research on how robot errors impact children’s trust (41 citations) and explored the potential of domestic robots for emotional support in healthy aging (32 citations). Her innovative “Wizard of Awwws” approach (30 citations) challenges traditional HRI methods by designing for positive, non-confrontational interactions. With over 340 total citations, Geiskkovitch’s work is essential reading for anyone interested in the social and psychological dimensions of human-robot relationships.