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About

Tracy Sanders is a prominent researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), with a distinguished focus on trust, transparency, and the psychological dimensions of human-machine relationships. Her foundational 2011 paper, "A Model of Human-Robot Trust," established a theoretical framework that has shaped the field, accumulating 118 citations and becoming a cornerstone reference for researchers studying operator-robot dynamics. Building on this work, Sanders has systematically examined how factors such as robot form, system transparency, and communication modality shape user trust — contributions that have collectively garnered hundreds of citations across her career. Sanders' research uniquely bridges cognitive psychology and robotics engineering. Her investigations into anthropomorphism, personality traits, and implicit attitudes toward robots reveal the deeply human dimensions of technology adoption. Notably, her 2019 experimental study linking trust directly to use-choice behavior in HRI provided empirical grounding for assumptions long held in the field. Her meta-analytic contributions further demonstrate her commitment to synthesizing broad literatures, offering actionable insights for autonomous and unmanned system design. With over 600 cumulative citations and research spanning theoretical modeling, experimental investigation, and statistical innovation — including Bayesian approaches — Sanders stands as an influential voice guiding the responsible and effective integration of robotic systems into human environments.