Reporting robot ethics for children-robot studies in contemporary peer reviewed papers

Abstract

How are robot ethics described in peer-reviewed papers for children-robot studies? Do publications refer to robot ethics such as: (a) gaining children’s assent, (b) providing a robot’s description prior to data collection, (c) having a robot exposure phase before data collection and (d) informing children about a robot’s semi-autonomy or not? A total of 27 peer-reviewed papers with an average impact factor of 1.8 were analysed. 63 % of the studies did not state any ethical procedures followed. In eight studies children gave their assent for the experiment; six studies described the robot to children prior to data collection; two studies provided a robot exposure phase prior to data collection and one study informed children that robots are operated machines. The outcomes indicate problematic applications of robot ethics in peer-reviewed journals and the necessity for the publishing industry to consider stricter actions on this aspect of a publication.