Barbara Dossett
Papers
1
Total Citations
25
H-Index
1
About
Barbara Dossett is a pioneering developmental psychologist whose research illuminates how children conceptualize artificial intelligence and computational systems. Her most influential work, "Gauging Children’s Understanding of Artificially Intelligent Objects," introduces an innovative methodology using "counterfactuals"—presenting children aged 5 to 11 with computational objects behaving unexpectedly. This seminal study, with 25 citations, reveals how children's reasoning about AI evolves from magical thinking to more sophisticated causal explanations, bridging developmental psychology and human-computer interaction. Dossett's major contribution lies in demonstrating that children's understanding of AI is not merely about technical knowledge but involves complex cognitive processes of agency, intentionality, and causality. Her work has profound implications for designing age-appropriate AI education and ethical guidelines for children's interaction with smart technologies. By comparing children's responses with adult baselines, Dossett established critical developmental benchmarks for AI comprehension. Her research remains foundational for scholars studying how young minds navigate an increasingly intelligent technological world, offering insights that inform both educational curricula and the design of child-friendly AI systems.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
- 1