PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS ROBOTS (2012)
Public Attitudes towards Robots Conducted by TNS Opinion & Social at the request of Directorate-General for Information Society and Media (INSFO) Survey co-ordinated by Directorate-General Communication
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................... 4
ATTITUDES TOWARDS ROBOTS ........................................................................ 6.1
INTRODUCTION/CONTEXT:
Interest in scientific discoveries and technological developments ........................... 6 1.1.
Familiarity with representations of robots .............................................................. 10 1.2.
Personal experience of robots ................................................................................. 14 1.3.
Views on robots ....................................................................................................... 17 1.3.1.
Overall view ............................................................................................................ 17 1.3.2.
Specific attitudes....................................................................................................... 21 2.
AREAS OF APPLICATION FOR ROBOTS............................................................32 2.1.
Areas where EU citizens believe robots should be used as a priority ...................... 32 2.2.
Areas where EU citizens believe robots should not be used .................................... 35 3.
ROBOTS IN THE EU: FUTURE PERSPECTIVES .................................................38 3.1. Acceptance of tasks done by a robot ......................................................................... 38 3.2.
When will it become commonplace for robots to do housework? ............................ 49
CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................... 53
ANNEXES
Technical specifications
Questionnaire
Tables
INTRODUCTION
1 http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm
2 The results tables are included in the annex. It should be noted that the total of the percentages in the tables of this report may exceed 100% when the respondent has the possibility of giving several answers to the question
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................... 4
ATTITUDES TOWARDS ROBOTS ........................................................................ 6.1
INTRODUCTION/CONTEXT:
Interest in scientific discoveries and technological developments ........................... 6 1.1.
Familiarity with representations of robots .............................................................. 10 1.2.
Personal experience of robots ................................................................................. 14 1.3.
Views on robots ....................................................................................................... 17 1.3.1.
Overall view ............................................................................................................ 17 1.3.2.
Specific attitudes....................................................................................................... 21 2.
AREAS OF APPLICATION FOR ROBOTS............................................................32 2.1.
Areas where EU citizens believe robots should be used as a priority ...................... 32 2.2.
Areas where EU citizens believe robots should not be used .................................... 35 3.
ROBOTS IN THE EU: FUTURE PERSPECTIVES .................................................38 3.1. Acceptance of tasks done by a robot ......................................................................... 38 3.2.
When will it become commonplace for robots to do housework? ............................ 49
CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................... 53
ANNEXES
Technical specifications
Questionnaire
Tables
INTRODUCTION
This report presents the results of a Special Eurobarometer survey into public attitudes
towards robots. The aim of the survey is to gauge public opinion towards robots by
measuring public perceptions, acceptance levels, worries and reservations among EU
citizens aged 15 and over in the 27 Member States.
Robotics is a key technology for Europe’s future competitiveness. Robots enable
efficiency in all manufacturing and production sectors and contribute to employment in
the European Union. Public perceptions of robots, are however, often influenced by
misconceptions and fears. In order to improve the image of robots and to increase public
acceptance, it is necessary to better understand public opinion about this technology.
The results of the survey are analysed in terms of the European average for the 27
Member States (EU27), then on a country-by-country basis, then at a socio-demographic
level by comparing the results on the basis of gender, age, education, occupation and
people’s position on the social ladder. Where relevant other socio-demographic
characteristics are also analysed. Finally, the results are examined on the basis of
people’s interest in science and technology and their general view of robots.
The first part begins with a short introduction in which EU citizens’ interest in scientific
discoveries and technological developments are discussed, as this is an important
analysis variable. The chapter then looks at familiarity and personal experiences with
robots and general and more specific attitudes towards robots.
The second part examines the application areas for robots and presents the areas where
EU citizens believe robots should be used as a priority and where EU citizens believe
robots should be banned.
In the last part, the focus is on the future of robots. The chapter examines the
acceptance of tasks done by robots and considers when EU citizens believe it will become
commonplace for robots to do household tasks.
This survey was carried out by TNS Opinion & Social network in the 27 Member States of
the European Union between 25 February and 11 March 2012. 26 751 respondents from
different social and demographic groups were interviewed face-to-face at home in their
mother tongue on behalf of the Directorate-General for Information Society and Media
(INSFO). The methodology used is that of Eurobarometer surveys as carried out by the
Directorate-General for Communication (“Research and Speechwriting” Unit)1.. A
technical note on the manner in which interviews were conducted by the Institutes within
the TNS Opinion & Social network is appended as an annex to this report. Also included
are the interview methods and confidence intervals2
.
1 http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm
2 The results tables are included in the annex. It should be noted that the total of the percentages in the tables of this report may exceed 100% when the respondent has the possibility of giving several answers to the question
