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About

Sarah Kriz is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), whose work illuminates how people form expectations and communicate with robots. Her key research areas include the influence of science fiction on user expectations and the analysis of robot-directed speech. Kriz’s major contribution lies in demonstrating that first-time users’ conceptualizations of robots are shaped not by direct experience, but by cultural narratives—particularly from popular science fiction films. Her most cited work, “Fictional robots as a data source in HRI research” (58 citations), systematically explores this link, arguing that fictional portrayals provide a critical framework for understanding interactional expectations. In a series of related studies (totaling over 60 citations), Kriz analyzed how people modify their speech when addressing robots, revealing that these linguistic adaptations reflect users’ implicit beliefs about a robot’s cognitive and communicative abilities. This work provides a novel, non-intrusive method for assessing user mental models. By bridging media studies and HRI, Kriz has offered foundational insights into the psychology of human-robot communication, making her research essential for designing robots that align with user expectations.