Research on the Social Impaots of Robotics: Issues and Some Evidence

The goal of our research program described in this chapter is to contribute to knowledge about how the introduction of robots affects individuals and the structure, functioning, and effectiveness of organizations. Robots are being used in increasing numbers in offices and factories throughout the world. Current estimates put the number of robots in use in the United States in 1983 at about 7, 000 (Hunt & Hunt, 1983 ). Little is known, however, about how individual workers react to the introduction of robots or about how the use of robots affects organizational structures, processes, and outcomes. The research described here is an attempt to fill this gap in our knowledge about the social impact of robotics.