Papers
9
Total Citations
105
H-Index
5
About
Kathleen Belhassein is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI), cognitive psychology, and philosophy, dedicated to making robots socially intelligent partners rather than mere tools. Her work centers on joint action—how humans and robots can coordinate seamlessly in shared tasks—and the design of robots that communicate and decide in ways that feel natural and appropriate. In her highly cited study “Should a Robot Guide Like a Human?” (31 citations), she conducted a four-phase qualitative analysis of a shopping mall robot, revealing critical insights into user expectations and social norms. Belhassein’s contributions include the development of the PeRDITA questionnaire, a novel tool for evaluating the pertinence of robot decisions in joint action contexts, and the “Director Task,” a psychology-inspired assessment for robot architectures. She was a key contributor to the EU-funded MuMMER project, which created a socially intelligent robot for public spaces. Her interdisciplinary approach, drawing on developmental psychology and philosophy, has shaped methodological principles for user studies in HRI, earning her recognition for advancing situated, sustainable robotics that respect human psychological needs.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3MuMMER: Socially Intelligent Human-Robot Interaction in Public Spaces17 citations · 2019
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9The Role of Commitments in Socially Appropriate Robotics1 citations · 2024