Anne McBride
Papers
1
Total Citations
34
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Anne McBride is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-animal interaction and child development, with a particular focus on how children perceive and evaluate live animals versus biomimetic robots. Her most cited work, "Children’s Evaluations of a Therapy Dog and Biomimetic Robot: Influences of Animistic Beliefs and Social Interaction" (2020, 34 citations), represents a landmark contribution to understanding how animistic beliefs shape children's social engagement with both living creatures and technological counterparts. This research has profound implications for the design of therapeutic interventions, particularly in pediatric healthcare settings where social robots are increasingly deployed. By systematically comparing children's responses to therapy dogs and biomimetic robots, Dr. McBride has illuminated critical differences in how young people attribute social agency and emotional connection to these two types of companions. Her work bridges developmental psychology, animal-assisted therapy, and human-robot interaction, offering evidence-based insights that inform both clinical practice and technology design. Dr. McBride's scholarship is essential reading for researchers and practitioners seeking to optimize therapeutic environments for children, demonstrating that while robots can serve valuable roles, they do not simply replicate the unique benefits of live animal interaction.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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