Hugbits: Appearance Preferences for Huggable Communication Interfaces Survey

This dataset contains user evaluation and survey responses from a research study exploring the relationship between user personality traits and visual/structural appearance preferences for huggable computer-mediated communication (CMC) interfaces. Using the soft, cushion-like remote communication device HugBits as a conceptual anchor, the study evaluates user responses to seven different shape variations representing a continuum from abstract, object-like designs to highly anthropomorphic body forms. This dataset consists of: raw participants responsey to the survey in Polish (hugbits_questionnaire_data_polish.xlsx) survey in Polish (hugbits_survey_polish.pdf) survey in English (hugbits_survey_english.pdf) Key Dataset Features Participant Demographics: Data from N = 79 valid, culturally homogeneous Polish participants (retaining only those who passed embedded narrative attention checks). The sample includes age distribution, gender identification, and history of emotional separation from a loved one. Shape Preference Metrics: Rankings and multiple-choice feedback evaluating the Most Favorite and Least Favorite shapes out of seven design options (Round, Square, Arms, Baby, Snowman, Bean, Star). Design Attribute Evaluations: Quantitative and open-ended feedback regarding specific functional or aesthetic features, such as perceived comfort, simplicity, or presence of limb-like extensions. Anthropomorphism Preferences: Forced-choice and 7-point Likert scale ratings comparing preferences for object-like features versus human-like facial features (e.g., eyes) across the different shape styles. Psychometric Personality Profiles: Individual psychological profiles evaluated via the standardized Big Five Inventory (BFI-44), capturing dimensions of Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness. Dataset Schema & Structure The published data file generally consists of the following components mapped per participant: Data Category Description Scale / Format Demographics Age group, reported sex, education level, and previous experience with physical separation. Categorical / Text Primary Shape Choice Selection of the most and least favorite generic design shape. Nominal (Shape A through Shape G) Feature Motivation Selected reasons for liking or disliking specific forms (e.g., "Comfortable to hug", "Too weird"). Multi-selection binary flags Facial Feature Ratings Explicit preferences for adding human-like (eyes) vs. object-like attributes. 7-point Likert scale ($-3$ to $+3$) / Forced Choice BFI-44 Responses Raw scores across the 44 standard items of the Big Five Inventory. 1 to 5 Likert scale Funding: Dataset creation was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland under the OPUS call in the Weave programme under the project number 2021/43/I/ST6/02489.