Jo Ana Vaz

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Jo Ana Vaz investigates the dynamics of human-robot interaction within complex social group settings, with a particular focus on how robots can assume diverse roles—from peer to moderator—in collaborative and competitive environments. Her most-cited work, "Social Group Interactions in a Role-Playing Game" (2015, 13 citations), presents pioneering findings from an experiment where participants played the classic role-playing game Mafia alongside a robot. By comparing conditions in which the robot acted as a fellow player versus a game moderator, Vaz uncovered critical insights into how robot behavior shapes group dynamics, trust, and engagement. This research lays foundational groundwork for designing robots that can seamlessly integrate into human social circles, whether in education, entertainment, or team-based tasks. Although her citation count reflects an emerging career, Vaz’s contributions are notable for their innovative experimental design and their direct relevance to the growing field of social robotics. Her work challenges assumptions about robot roles, demonstrating that even simple behavioral shifts can profoundly alter group interaction patterns—a key consideration for future human-robot collaboration.