Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Mike Van Duuren is a pioneering researcher in developmental psychology, specializing in how children conceptualize intelligent technology. His work explores the fascinating intersection of cognitive development and artificial intelligence, focusing on children's understanding of computers and robots as thinking entities. Van Duuren's major contributions include revealing that children attribute brain-related behaviors—like memory and reasoning—to intelligent artifacts, even when they recognize these objects lack biological brains. His most-cited paper, "Do computers have brains? What children believe about intelligent artifacts" (1995, 61 citations), demonstrates that young children often anthropomorphize technology, viewing robots as having cognitive capabilities. This foundational study, along with his 1996 follow-up (28 citations) and his 1998 work on counterfactuals (25 citations), collectively show how children's reasoning about artificial intelligence evolves with age. Van Duuren's research is notable for its use of innovative methods, such as counterfactual scenarios, to probe children's mental models of technology. His findings have significant implications for education and human-computer interaction, helping designers and educators understand how young minds perceive and interact with increasingly intelligent machines.