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document
Social robots as embedded reinforcers of social behavior in children with autism . In this study we examined the social behaviors of 4- to 12-year-old children with autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ; N = 24 ) during three tradic interactions with an adult confederate and an interaction partner , where the interaction partner varied randomly among ( 1 ) another adult human , ( 2 ) a touchscreen computer game , and ( 3 ) a social dinosaur robot . Children spoke more in general , and directed more speech to the adult confederate , when the interaction partner was a robot , as compared to a human or computer game interaction partner . Children spoke as much to the robot as to the adult interaction partner . This study provides the largest demonstration of social human-robot interaction in children with autism to date . Our findings suggest that social robots may be developed into useful tools for social skills and communication therapies , specifically by embedding social interaction into intrinsic reinforcers and motivators .
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Intervention_Educational
an adult confederate and an interaction partner
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Intervention_Educational
( 1 ) another adult human , ( 2 ) a touchscreen computer game , and ( 3 ) a social dinosaur robot
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Participant_Age
children
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Participant_Condition
autism