The acceptability of social robots: A scoping review of the recent literature

Social robots seem to be integrating into our society quite rapidly (e.g., Conti et al. 2019). Yet, the fact that they are integrated in different domains does not ensure potential users accept them (e.g., de Graaf, Ben Allouch, & van Dijk, 2018). This is especially true as technology assessments evolve over time (e.g., Peters & Ben Allouch, 2005). In this scoping review, the aim is to provide an overview of the acceptability of social robots over the last ten years. The research question is to understand whether potential users now finally accept these social robots, by focusing on the last few years. Only studies that explicitly state that they measure the acceptability of social robots were included whether qualitative, quantitative, or mixed. The electronic databases searched were PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and the Psychology database (ProQuest), as well as Google Scholar. Data was collected in August 2020 from the databases and in November 2020 from Google scholar. Three hundred seventy-six articles were identified in the databases as relevant. Finally, after screening by inclusion and exclusion criteria, 43 articles were eligible. In addition to the metadata, the following data were extracted: type of robot exposition (e.g., real interaction, video, picture), the name of the robot used, the acceptability measure used, secondary measure (e.g., satisfaction), type of article (e.g., qualitative) and authors’ conclusions. Sample nationality, sample size, sample type and funding/conflict of interest were extracted in a second step. The scoping review identified 43 articles published from August 2010 to November 2020. From the selected articles we observe that in the last ten years it is the field of health (60.5%) that has been the focus, in the accompaniment of the elderly (32.6%). These results are also reflected in the tools used to measure acceptability. The Almere model (i.e., adapted to older adults, Heerink, Krose, Evers, & Wielinga, 2009 , pp. 528–533) was the most used (9.3%). Overall, most people have a rather positive attitude towards social robots (67.4%), while others often are ambivalent regarding their acceptability (11.6%). In recent years, researchers have focused on improving the acceptability of social robots, often with the objective of supporting the autonomy of the elderly. However, the high rate of acceptability found in this scoping review should be taken with precaution in view of the few articles selected and the conditions of the studies selected, often in the laboratory and rarely in long-term ecological conditions. • The scoping review identified 43 articles published from August 2010 to November 2020. • In the last ten years, the field of health that has been the focus, in the accompaniment of the elderly. • These results are also reflected in the tools used to measure acceptability of social robots. • Most people have positive attitude towards social robots, while others are ambivalent regarding their acceptability. • Acceptability is often in the laboratory and rarely under long-term ecological conditions.