Kirsten Thommes
Papers
7
Total Citations
192
H-Index
7
About
Kirsten Thommes is a leading researcher in the socio-technical integration of care robots, focusing on how these technologies are perceived, adopted, and embedded into elder care systems. Her work bridges human-robot interaction, organizational behavior, and public policy, with a particular emphasis on the human factors that determine successful implementation. Thommes’ most cited study, “Care Robot Orientation: What, Who and How?” (71 citations), establishes a foundational framework for training users and staff, while her co-authored work on socio-technical considerations (60 citations) examines the multi-level transitions required for care robots to move from niche to mainstream practice. She has also conducted cross-European studies on assistant nurses’ orientation needs and experimentally demonstrated that improved knowledge can shift older adults’ mindsets from skepticism to acceptance. Notably, her laboratory experiment on choices under uncertainty reveals when individuals prefer robots over human caregivers, offering critical insights for workforce planning. With a growing citation record and contributions to both academic literature and practical implementation guidelines, Thommes is shaping how societies prepare for an aging population and the inevitable rise of assistive technologies.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Care Robot Orientation: What, Who and How? Potential Users’ Perceptions71 citations · 2020
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- 69 Assistive robots in care: Expectations and perceptions of older people9 citations · 2020
- 7Perception of Society’s Trust in Care Robots by Public Opinion Leaders7 citations · 2022