Sari Heikkinen

Tikkurila (Finland), Laurea University of Applied Sciences

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Sari Heikkinen is a leading researcher in the intersection of social robotics and welfare technology, with a primary focus on the human factors influencing the adoption of care robots in elderly services. Her work critically examines the attitudes and perceptions of home care workers—the frontline users of these emerging technologies—providing essential insights into the practical and psychological barriers to implementation. Her most-cited paper, "Impacts of a Care Robotics Project on Finnish Home Care Workers’ Attitudes towards Robots" (2020, 12 citations), is a pioneering study that demonstrates how targeted project activities can positively shift care workers' attitudes, a crucial step for successful technology integration. Heikkinen also contributed to the influential "Robots and the Future of Welfare Services: A Finnish Roadmap" (2021, 7 citations), a collaborative, multi-author report that charts a strategic course for the nation's adoption of robotics in public welfare. By focusing on the human element in technological change, Heikkinen’s research provides vital, evidence-based guidance for policymakers and care organizations navigating the future of automated care, ensuring that technological progress aligns with the needs and readiness of the workforce.