2016 Volume 25 Issue 3 Pages 218-225
This study aimed to develop the Japanese version of psychological scales to evaluate anthropomorphism. This process revealed factors related to subjective anthropomorphism in Japan. Previously Western studies have used two different scales: a scale of agency/experience and a scale of uniquely human/human nature. We translated them for this study. Participants were 1,200 people from Japan who rated six robots and two humans on the two scales. Results showed that the scales had similar factor structures to those revealed in Western studies, which were divided into positive and negative factors. It was suggested that the Japanese population evaluates positive and negative anthropomorphic features differently. The reliability of the scales was satisfactory. Further, we discussed the effect of cultural background and usability of these scales.