A Bibliometric Analysis of Human-Robot Interaction Behaviour Research

In Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) research, "behaviour"refers to one way robots express themselves and convey information. With the increased interest in robots in industrial, research, and domestic settings, understanding how robots behave and are perceived has become a top priority in the HRI community. Using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), we conducted a bibliometric analysis on 2,464 articles and proceedings about robot behaviour published from 2005 to 2025. Our analysis reveals a rapid development with a clear shift in HRI research on robot behaviour, moving from early theoretical and conceptual foundations toward more application-oriented studies, such as task analysis and navigation. Behavioural science and collaborative robotics have emerged as central research themes within this evolving landscape, with current research no longer limited to interaction methodologies but increasingly integrating other learning-based approaches to enhance user interaction experiences. Our analysis highlights that the field is characterized by strong cross-regional and institutional collaboration, with the United States serving as an international research center, and suggests future studies may include exploration into the interplay between behavioural science, human-robot collaboration, artificial intelligence, and robotic behaviours.