In this course, students will be introduced to experimental as well as qualitative approaches to conducting research in the field of human-human interactions (HHI) and human-robot interactions (HRI). They will be actively engaged in in-class theoretical and ethical reflections and comparisons on how to do research in HHI and HRI fields.

In the practical part of this course, students will learn about implementing a coding scheme based on given research hypotheses, and coding techniques associated with each approach (experimental and qualitative) both in HRI and HHI studies. Towards this aim, they will practice using different software for coding video-data and present their findings in both oral (group-work) and written (individual work) formats.

The course consists of a combination of class lecture meetings and interactive labs. The distinction between lab and lecture classes is not absolute and it is expected that information introduced in one setting will carry over to the other setting.

The aims of this course are to:

1. Introduce students to experimental and qualitative approaches to conducting behavioural research in human psychology of social interactions, data collection and coding techniques associated with each.
2. Introduce students to similarities and differences between behavioural research HHI and HRI. Stimulate their development of critical thinking and reflective skills about doing research in HRI as compared to HHI, its methodological, ethical and socio-cultural aspects and constraints.
3. Provide students with opportunities to make hands-on experience with using tools for coding multimodal video-data with two different software (ELAN and Datavyu) and learn how to choose the right software according to the research hypotheses and type of data collected.
4. Facilitate students’ development of a range of transferable research skills, including translating theoretical hypotheses into research study; asking and answering specific and feasible research questions; the appropriate use of relevant technological resources, e.g., data coding software and video-recording technology.
5. Give students exposure to the diversity of research being conducted in the School (in connection with Ingar’s course and other methods courses offered by the School).

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Outline the defining characteristics of experimental and qualitative approaches to conducting research HHI and HRI.
2. Translate research hypotheses into identifiable, measurable behaviours to be coded. Construe a coding vocabulary of all target behaviours/interactional patterns to identify in the data corpus.
3. Apply data collection and coding techniques/tools to HRI research questions, and justify the selection and use of these techniques.

Teaching methods

• Standard in-class teaching, including engaged collective discussions
• Group-work and presentations (as part of the final evaluation)
• Lab-based coding practicals, where each student will be working individually on one computer

Registration