Robots in Education and Care of Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Study on Acceptance by Experienced and Future Professionals

TLDR

Robotics offers many opportunities for educating children with developmental disabilities, yet skepticism remains high in education and care settings. The study investigates factors influencing acceptance of robots by experienced practitioners and future professionals using the UTAUT model, hypothesizing that integration with standard protocols could improve acceptance. The authors applied the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model to assess acceptance factors among practitioners and students. Results confirm the UTAUT model’s applicability and reveal a generally positive attitude, though practitioners view robots as expensive and limited, whereas students show higher willingness to use them.

Abstract

Research in the area of robotics has made available numerous possibilities for further innovation in the education of children, especially in the rehabilitation of those with learning difficulties and/or intellectual disabilities. Despite the scientific evidence, there is still a strong scepticism against the use of robots in the fields of education and care of people. Here we present a study on the acceptance of robots by experienced practitioners (specialized in the treatment of intellectual disabilities) and university students in psychology and education sciences (as future professionals). The aim is to examine the factors, through the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, that may influence the decision to use a robot as an instrument in the practice. The overall results confirm the applicability of the model in the context of education and care of children, and suggest a positive attitude towards the use of the robot. The comparison highlights some scepticism among the practitioners, who perceive the robot as an expensive and limited tool, while students show a positive perception and a significantly higher willingness to use the robot. From this experience, we formulate the hypothesis that robots may be accepted if more integrated with standard rehabilitation protocols in a way that benefits can outweigh the costs.