Leanne Proops
Papers
2
Total Citations
50
H-Index
2
About
Leanne Proops is a leading researcher in human-animal interaction and child-robot dynamics, whose work bridges developmental psychology, animal behavior, and robotics. Her primary research areas focus on how children perceive and respond to live animals versus biomimetic robots, particularly in therapeutic and educational contexts. Proops’s major contributions include pioneering studies that compare children’s evaluations of therapy dogs and social robots, revealing how animistic beliefs and social interaction shape their emotional and behavioral responses. Her 2020 paper, *Children’s Evaluations of a Therapy Dog and Biomimetic Robot*, has garnered 34 citations, underscoring its influence in understanding the nuanced roles of aliveness and embodiment in child-robot interaction. In her 2023 follow-up, *Exploring the role of aliveness in children’s responses to a dog, biomimetic robot, and toy dog* (16 citations), she further dissects how perceived animacy affects engagement and comfort. Proops’s work is notable for its practical implications, informing the design of robotic companions for pediatric therapy and education. Her findings challenge assumptions about the superiority of live animals, offering evidence that robots can elicit meaningful social responses when designed with lifelike cues. Through rigorous experimental designs, Proops has established herself as a key voice in the ethical and effective integration of technology into child development and welfare.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2