Browsing by Author "MacArthur, Cayley"

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Mansplainable AI: Investigating Patronizing Language in Generative AI Chatbots
(University of Waterloo, 2024-12-12) Nova, Natalie; Hancock, Mark; MacArthur, Cayley
As generative AI systems become increasingly prevalent in human communication, problem-solving, and overall workflow, the nature of their text responses raises important questions about explanation and interpretation. Feminist literature critiques the concept of explanation, suggesting that it can be perceived as condescending, and can manifest as a form of “mansplaining.” This thesis interrogates the reception of AI-generated explanations, focusing specifically on how gender and perceived communication style influence user perceptions. We conducted a study utilizing three distinct OpenAI chatbots—Mansplaining, Default, and Compassionate—each designed with different built-in prompts, in a sentiment analysis task involving 108 participants. My findings reveal significant differences in how these chatbots are perceived. The mansplaining chatbot was consistently viewed as more dominant, patronizing, and unfriendly, while it was rated lower on respect, consideration, warmth, and supportiveness. Notably, it was perceived by participants, particularly women, as believing it possessed greater knowledge and expertise than them, leading to feelings of inadequacy regarding their competence and experience. In contrast, the default chatbot was recognized as less considerate than the compassionate chatbot, yet women perceived the default chatbot as exhibiting more confidence compared to men’s perception. I analyzed the non-binary participants separately to observe their perceptions. Finally, I examined comments from 46 participants, which revealed patterns that aligned closely with the quantitative results, further substantiating the findings. These results underscore the critical impact of communication styles in generative AI explanations on user experiences, particularly through the lens of gender dynamics. With these findings, this thesis aims to promote the design of more equitable and empathetic AI systems that account for sociotechnical factors. I advocate for a re-evaluation of AI explanation frameworks, emphasizing the need for designs that foster inclusivity, respect, and understanding in human-AI interactions.
Sharing Play Spaces: Design Lessons from Reddit Posts Showing Virtual Reality in the Home
(Association for Computing Machinery, 2023) Harley, Daniel; MacArthur, Cayley
With the increasing availability of consumer virtual reality (VR) devices for personal and recreational use, the domestic contexts of VR design are increasingly important. Given that much of the current interaction design research for VR is conducted in lab-based settings, there is a need for design considerations that engage with the complexities of these real-world spaces. We present an analysis of visual data (e.g., GIFs, videos, photographs) collected from a manual search of Reddit posts that show “play spaces” and other home-based contexts of VR. Our findings offer insight into the diverse and dynamic characteristics of VR spaces, with set-ups ranging from bedrooms to garages, and with the people, objects, impediments, and affordances of individual spaces demonstrating a variety of ways that VR is used in the home. We conclude by discussing directions for future interaction design research that seeks to incorporate physical actions and environments while also engaging with the complex realities of domestic VR.