The Hidden Influence of Robots: How Robot Interaction Strategies Shape Human-Human Interaction and Perception in Creative Ideation

Abstract

Social robots deployed in collaborative groups reshape interaction between human participants, yet how different verbal strategies produce distinct shaping effects remains untested. This study compared assertive and supportive robot strategies across 20 dyads in a creative ideation task with a Pepper robot. Transcripts were coded using Mercer’s talk taxonomy and post-session interviews were analysed thematically. The supportive strategy produced a significantly higher frequency of exploratory discourse than the assertive strategy. The interaction strategy had no significant effect on participation balance, disputational talk, cumulative talk, group cohesion, or ingroup identification. Four unintended cross-condition shaping effects emerged, including attention redistribution, partner solidarity, speech formalisation,
and emotional suppression. Condition-specific effects were also observed, including creative suppression and expert deference. These results show that a robot’s verbal register shapes the quality of human collaboration, and that robot presence alone restructures interaction beyond any programmed design intent.