David Schkade

Papers

Total Citations

117

H-Index

About

David Schkade is a researcher whose work has made notable contributions to the intersection of human psychology and emerging workplace technologies, particularly in the area of human-robot interaction. His landmark study, "The Human Side of Robotics: How Workers React to a Robot," first published in 1985 and accumulating 85 citations, established him as a pioneering voice in understanding the psychological dimensions of technological change in industrial settings. This foundational research examined how factory workers emotionally and cognitively responded to the introduction of robotic systems, revealing a nuanced picture in which employees simultaneously acknowledged benefits such as reduced physical fatigue while grappling with concerns about the disruption robotics brought to their working lives. Schkade's focus on worker perception and the manner in which new technology is introduced — not merely the technology itself — highlighted the critical human factors that organizations must consider during automation transitions. With continued scholarly engagement reflected in later citations of his prototype study through the Robotics Institute, his work remains relevant to ongoing conversations about automation, workforce adaptation, and the human costs and benefits of technological progress in modern workplaces.