Kathryn Owen
Papers
1
Total Citations
15
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Kathryn Owen investigates the intersection of developmental psychology and human-robot interaction, with a primary focus on how young children learn from social robots. Her groundbreaking work challenges assumptions about robotic teaching tools, demonstrating through meticulous experimental design that toddlers as young as one year old can successfully imitate actions demonstrated by robots—a finding with profound implications for early childhood education and technology design. In her most cited study, "Can a robot teach me that? Children’s ability to imitate robots" (2020), Owen showed that 1- to 3-year-olds learn comparably from human and robot demonstrators, effectively establishing robots as viable pedagogical agents. This work has garnered 15 citations and sparked new research directions in developmental robotics. Owen’s contributions are particularly notable for bridging cognitive science and engineering, offering empirical evidence that informs both theoretical models of social learning and practical applications for educational technology. Her research continues to shape conversations about the appropriate role of automation in early learning environments, making her a leading voice in understanding how children navigate an increasingly robotic world.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Can a robot teach me that? Children’s ability to imitate robots15 citations · 2020