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Negative Attitudes Toward Robots Scale (NARS)3

Negative Attitudes Toward Robots Scale (NARS) Test

Understand doubts, fears, and emotional reactions to robots in about 3 minutes. With 13 quick items, it pinpoints resistance so teams can address concerns early and improve rollout.

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Questions: 133 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

21,075 views

1,926 completions

1,637 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

59/91

Negative Attitudes Toward Robots (NATR)

Measures the degree of negative attitudes toward robots, including fear, distrust, and discomfort with interacting with them.

Low negativity

Moderate negativity

High negativity

13 – 38: Low negativity | 39 – 65: Moderate negativity | 66 – 91: High negativity

A score of 59 falls in the Moderate negativity range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme level of discomfort or wariness toward robots.

example score

18/35

Interaction (I)

Measures willingness to actively interact with robots versus tendency to avoid contact with them.

Low negativity

Moderate negativity

High negativity

5 – 14: Low negativity | 15 – 24: Moderate negativity | 25 – 35: High negativity

A score of 18 falls in the Moderate negativity range, suggesting some reluctance to interact with robots while still allowing for engagement in certain contexts.

example score

19/35

Social Influence (SI)

Measures concerns about robots’ potential social influence, including fears of losing control and doubts about their intellectual capabilities.

Low concern

Moderate concern

High concern

5 – 15: Low concern | 16 – 25: Moderate concern | 26 – 35: High concern

A score of 19 indicates a moderate level of concern about robots’ social influence, suggesting some caution about control and societal impact without strong rejection.

example score

11/21

Emotional Component (EC)

Measures the intensity of negative emotions (e.g., fear, anxiety, irritation) experienced when interacting with robots.

Low negativity

Moderate negativity

High negativity

3 – 9: Low negativity | 10 – 15: Moderate negativity | 16 – 21: High negativity

A score of 11 falls in the Moderate negativity range, suggesting some negative emotional reactions to robots that are present but not intense.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Workplace Change Stakeholders

41%OF USERS

Employees, supervisors, and HR teams take it to gauge concerns and resistance before robots are introduced at work.

Human-Robot Interaction Researchers

34%OF USERS

Researchers and students use it to measure negative attitudes toward robots for studies and experiments.

Skeptical Tech Users

25%OF USERS

People who feel uneasy about robots take it to pinpoint whether their discomfort is about interaction, emotions, or societal impact.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Negative Attitude Toward Robots Scale (NATRS)

Average

49.8

Normal range

35.4 — 64.2

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

To interaction (Ti)

Average

13.6

Normal range

8.3 — 18.9

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

On Social Influence (OSI)

Average

13.3

Normal range

8.7 — 17.8

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

To the emotional component (Ttec)

Average

Normal range

11.9 — 18

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Please imagine yourself in a situation involving interaction with a robot. Below is a list of statements related to attitudes toward robots. Indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement. From the response options provided, select the one that most accurately reflects your level of agreement with the statement.

- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree

These are 3 of the 13 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Negative Attitude Towards Robots Scale, NARS Test

Negative Attitudes Toward Robots Scale (NARS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

cyberpsychology

technophobia

This self-report measure assesses negative attitudes and concerns related to robots and human-robot interaction. The Negative Attitudes Toward Robots Scale (NARS) is intended to characterize the nature and degree of discomfort, fear, or resistance that may arise when anticipating or engaging with robotic technologies. Originally developed by Nomura T., it can be used in research and applied settings where attitudes toward robots may influence acceptance or use.

The instrument contains 13 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. Scores may help identify domains of concern (e.g., unease with interaction, apprehension about societal impacts, and emotional reactions to robotics) and can inform needs assessment, implementation planning, or evaluation efforts in contexts introducing robotic systems. The Negative Attitudes Toward Robots Scale (NARS) is not a diagnostic tool and should be interpreted in conjunction with relevant contextual and behavioral information.

Author: Nomura T.

Literature: Nomura, T., Kanda, T., Suzuki, T., & Kato, K. Psychology in human–robot communication: The negative attitudes toward robots scale. Proceedings of the 2006 IEEE International Workshop on Robot and Human Interactive Communication. 2006.