# Design and Evaluation of a Socially Assistive Robot Schoolwork Companion for College Students with ADHD

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.06289 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.06289/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 11 Jan 2024.

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [Wild Narratives: Exploring the Effects of Animal Chatbots on Empathy and Positive Attitudes toward Animals](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.06060/) (2024)
- [Improving User Experience in Preference-Based Optimization of Reward Functions for Assistive Robots](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.11182/) (2024)
- [Stakeholder Perspectives on Whether and How Social Robots Can Support Mediation and Advocacy for Higher Education Students with Disabilities](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.16499/) (2025)
- [Supporting Productivity Skill Development in College Students through Social Robot Coaching: A Proof-of-Concept](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.01105/) (2025)
- [Improving through Interaction: Searching Behavioral Representation Spaces with CMA-ES-IG](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.09011/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

College students with ADHD respond positively to simple socially assistive robots (SARs) that monitor attention and provide non-verbal feedback, but studies have been done only in brief in-lab sessions. We present an initial design and evaluation of an in-dorm SAR study companion for college students with ADHD. This work represents the introductory stages of an ongoing user-centered, participatory design process. In a three-week within-subjects user study, university students (N=11) with self-reported symptoms of adult ADHD had a SAR study companion in their dorm room for two weeks and a computer-based system for one week. Toward developing SARs for long-term, in-dorm use, we focus on 1) evaluating the usability and desire for SAR study companions by college students with ADHD and 2) collecting participant feedback about the SAR design and functionality. Participants responded positively to the robot; after one week of regular use, 91% (10 of 11) chose to continue using the robot voluntarily in the second week.