유아의 정서적 안녕을 위한 인공지능 로봇의 적용 가능성 탐색: 4, 5세 유아와 로봇 간 일대일 상호작용 특성을 중심으로

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study aims to explore the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on young children’s emotions and suggest implications for the development of AI robots for young children. The study involved 20 children aged 4 and 5 years and examined the characteristics of interactions between children and robots when they were listening to stories and having conversations with the robot. The robot was constructed using the ROBOTIS Engineer Kit and was remotely controlled by a researcher during the activities. The children’s expressions, gestures, and conversations were recorded, and the collected data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results showed that the children approached the robot with curiosity, affection, and interest, and most of them interacted positively and amicably with the robot. The children demonstrated high levels of engagement in the activities and shared everyday stories with the robot. Additionally, the children offered the robot advice on its problems and shared their own concerns, engaging in serious and deep interactions with it. Individual differences were observed in the children’s responses. This study suggests that robots can serve as conversational companions for young children and potentially play a positive role in supporting their emotional well-being. It also provides various implications for the development of AI robots designed for young children.