Papers
3
Total Citations
25
H-Index
3
About
Naruki Shirahama is a researcher at the forefront of affective engineering and human-robot interaction, with a specialized focus on refining how subjective human experiences are measured and analyzed. His primary contribution lies in pioneering the use of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) as a superior alternative to the traditional Likert Scale. Shirahama’s work directly addresses critical flaws in conventional subjective evaluation, such as the inability to treat Likert data as interval measures and its susceptibility to central tendency bias. By championing VAS, he has enabled robust parametric statistical analysis even with small sample sizes—a common challenge in psychological and engineering studies. His most cited paper (2021, 15 citations) introduces a new method for small sample data analysis using VAS, while his 2017 study applies this technique to communication robots, exploring their potential for mental health improvement. Notably, his 2018 work proposes a complete experimental framework that includes a novel method for overlaying and visualizing results, making complex emotional data more interpretable. Through these innovations, Shirahama is not only advancing the methodology of subjective evaluation but also opening new pathways for using robotic and IT technologies to support human well-being.
Research Focus
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