Sam R. McHugh
Papers
1
Total Citations
6
H-Index
1
About
Sam R. McHugh investigates how children come to understand robots and other technological artifacts, blending developmental psychology with human-robot interaction. Her work centers on the sociocultural factors that shape children’s animacy judgments—whether they perceive robots as living or mechanical—and how these perceptions are influenced by family dynamics and parental background. In her most cited paper, “Unusual artifacts: Linking parents’ STEM background and children’s animacy judgments to parent–child play with robots” (2021, 6 citations), McHugh extends prior research by examining how real-world parent-child interactions with robots, alongside parents’ own STEM expertise, shape children’s reasoning. This study highlights the critical role of social context in cognitive development, offering new insights for designing educational technologies and fostering STEM engagement. Though early in her career, McHugh’s work has already been recognized for its novel interdisciplinary approach, bridging developmental science and robotics. Her findings carry practical implications for parents, educators, and robot designers, emphasizing that a child’s understanding of technology is not purely individual but deeply embedded in family conversations and play.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1