Sophie Heezen
Papers
1
Total Citations
3
H-Index
1
About
Sophie Heezen’s research sits at the intriguing intersection of olfaction, social cognition, and human-robot interaction. Her most cited work, “No Evidence for an Effect of the Smell of Hexanal on Trust in Human–Robot Interaction” (2022, 3 citations), challenges the assumption that chemical signals influencing human trust can be straightforwardly transferred to robotic contexts. By rigorously testing whether the grassy scent of hexanal—known to boost interpersonal trust—could similarly enhance trust in robots, Heezen’s null result provides a critical caution against overgeneralizing biological findings to artificial agents. This contribution underscores the complexity of designing socially intuitive robots and highlights the need for domain-specific empirical validation. While her citation count is modest, the work’s conceptual boldness and methodological transparency make it a valuable reference for researchers exploring multisensory HRI. Heezen’s scholarship exemplifies how negative results can advance the field by refining our understanding of what does—and does not—work in building trust with machines.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1