Bobbie Seppalt

New England University Transportation Center

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Bobbie Seppalt is a researcher whose work lies at the intersection of human factors, automation, and cognitive psychology, with a particular focus on trust dynamics in human-machine interaction. Her most cited paper, "Trust Impacts Driver Glance Strategy in Multitasking" (2017, 6 citations), offers a compelling contribution to understanding how trust shapes gaze behavior in automated driving contexts. Drawing on evidence from human-to-human and primate social dynamics, Seppalt demonstrates that patterns of visual attention serve as a critical indicator of trust in automated systems—much as they do in interpersonal relationships. This work bridges foundational theories of gaze and social trust with applied questions in vehicle automation, highlighting the subtle ways drivers allocate their attention when multitasking. Though her citation count is modest, Seppalt’s research is notable for its conceptual depth and interdisciplinary reach, connecting evolutionary psychology, human-robot interaction, and transportation safety. Her findings carry practical implications for designing more trustworthy and transparent autonomous systems, making her a thoughtful voice in the growing discourse on human trust in technology.