Table 1.

Results of statistical analysis (Wilcoxon signed-rank test) of behavioral responses observed in PARO and Lion conditions for mild/moderate dementia group (M-group) and severe dementia group (S-group).

	Category of behavior	Mild/moderate dementia group	Severe dementia group	Interpretation
(1) Significant difference in both groups	(A) Talking to PARO/Lion	T = 0	T = 0	Talking to PARO was more frequent than talking to Lion.
		N = 15	N = 7
		p < 0.01	p < 0.05
	(B) Positive changes in expression	T = 21	T = 0	Higher observed frequency of positive expressions when interacting with PARO.
		N = 17	N = 8
		p < 0.01	p < 0.01
	(C) Laughing with PARO/Lion	T = 34	T = 0	Higher observed frequency of laughing when interacting with PARO compared to Lion.
		N = 16	N = 7
		p = 0.078	p < 0.05
(2) Significant difference in M-group only	(D) Touching or stroking PARO/Lion	T = 27.5	T = 10	Frequency of touching or stroking was higher with Lion than PARO in M-group only.
		N = 17	N = 7
		p < 0.05	p > 0.1
	(E) Talking to staff member	T = 3	T = 28	Frequency of talking to staff member was higher with Lion than PARO in M-group only.
		N = 18	N = 11
		p < 0.01	p > 0.1
	(F) Reaction with negative expression	T = 13.5	T = 7	Higher observed frequency of negative expressions when interacting with Lion in M-group only. However, the frequency of negative expressions was low in both conditions in both groups.
		N = 12	N = 5
		p < 0.05	p > 0.1
	(G) Talking initiated by staff member	T = 30.5	T = 23.5	Higher observed frequency of talking initiated by staff when interacting with Lion in M-group only.
		N = 19	N = 10
		p < 0.01	p > 0.1
(3) Significant difference in S-group only	(H) Neutral expression	T = 57.5	T = 8	Higher frequency of neutral expression when interacting with Lion in S-group only.
		N = 19	N = 10
		p > 0.1	p < 0.05