Adaptive language behavior in HCl: How expectations and beliefs about a system affect users' word choice

Jamie Pearson; Jiang Hu; Holly P. Branigan; Martin J. Pickering; Clifford I. Nass

Adaptive language behavior in HCl: How expectations and beliefs about a system affect users' word choice

Jamie Pearson^*, Jiang Hu, Holly P. Branigan, Martin J. Pickering, Clifford I. Nass

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract / Description of output

People display adaptive language behaviors in face-to-face conversations, but will computer users do the same during HCI? We report an experiment (N=20) demonstrating that users' use of language (in terms of lexical choice) is influenced by their beliefs and expectations about a system: When users believe that the system is unsophisticated and restricted in capability, they adapt their language to match the system's language more than when they believe the system is relatively sophisticated and capable. Moreover, this tendency is based entirely on users' expectations about the system; it is unaffected by the actual behavior that the system exhibits. Our results demonstrate that interface design engenders particular beliefs in users about a system's capabilities, and that these beliefs can determine the extent to which users adapt to the system. We argue that such effects can be leveraged to improve the quality and effectiveness of human-computer interactions.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	CHI 2006
Subtitle of host publication	Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Conference Proceedings SIGCHI
Pages	1177-1180
Number of pages	4
Volume	2
Publication status	Published - 17 Jul 2006
Event	CHI 2006: Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Montreal, QC, Canada Duration: 22 Apr 2006 → 27 Apr 2006

Conference

Conference	CHI 2006: Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Country/Territory	Canada
City	Montreal, QC
Period	22/04/06 → 27/04/06

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Adaptation
Alignment
HCI
Interaction technologies
Language behavior
Natural language

Cite this

@inproceedings{2d59d8ed671e405da0edcb675be9e3e2,

title = "Adaptive language behavior in HCl: How expectations and beliefs about a system affect users' word choice",

abstract = "People display adaptive language behaviors in face-to-face conversations, but will computer users do the same during HCI? We report an experiment (N=20) demonstrating that users' use of language (in terms of lexical choice) is influenced by their beliefs and expectations about a system: When users believe that the system is unsophisticated and restricted in capability, they adapt their language to match the system's language more than when they believe the system is relatively sophisticated and capable. Moreover, this tendency is based entirely on users' expectations about the system; it is unaffected by the actual behavior that the system exhibits. Our results demonstrate that interface design engenders particular beliefs in users about a system's capabilities, and that these beliefs can determine the extent to which users adapt to the system. We argue that such effects can be leveraged to improve the quality and effectiveness of human-computer interactions.",

keywords = "Adaptation, Alignment, HCI, Interaction technologies, Language behavior, Natural language",

author = "Jamie Pearson and Jiang Hu and Branigan, {Holly P.} and Pickering, {Martin J.} and Nass, {Clifford I.}",

year = "2006",

month = jul,

day = "17",

language = "English",

isbn = "1595931783",

volume = "2",

pages = "1177--1180",

booktitle = "CHI 2006",

note = "CHI 2006: Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems ; Conference date: 22-04-2006 Through 27-04-2006",

}

Pearson, J, Hu, J, Branigan, HP , Pickering, MJ & Nass, CI 2006, Adaptive language behavior in HCl: How expectations and beliefs about a system affect users' word choice. in CHI 2006: Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Conference Proceedings SIGCHI. vol. 2, pp. 1177-1180, CHI 2006: Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Montreal, QC, Canada, 22/04/06.

TY - GEN

T1 - Adaptive language behavior in HCl

T2 - CHI 2006: Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

AU - Pearson, Jamie

AU - Hu, Jiang

AU - Branigan, Holly P.

AU - Pickering, Martin J.

AU - Nass, Clifford I.

PY - 2006/7/17

Y1 - 2006/7/17

N2 - People display adaptive language behaviors in face-to-face conversations, but will computer users do the same during HCI? We report an experiment (N=20) demonstrating that users' use of language (in terms of lexical choice) is influenced by their beliefs and expectations about a system: When users believe that the system is unsophisticated and restricted in capability, they adapt their language to match the system's language more than when they believe the system is relatively sophisticated and capable. Moreover, this tendency is based entirely on users' expectations about the system; it is unaffected by the actual behavior that the system exhibits. Our results demonstrate that interface design engenders particular beliefs in users about a system's capabilities, and that these beliefs can determine the extent to which users adapt to the system. We argue that such effects can be leveraged to improve the quality and effectiveness of human-computer interactions.

AB - People display adaptive language behaviors in face-to-face conversations, but will computer users do the same during HCI? We report an experiment (N=20) demonstrating that users' use of language (in terms of lexical choice) is influenced by their beliefs and expectations about a system: When users believe that the system is unsophisticated and restricted in capability, they adapt their language to match the system's language more than when they believe the system is relatively sophisticated and capable. Moreover, this tendency is based entirely on users' expectations about the system; it is unaffected by the actual behavior that the system exhibits. Our results demonstrate that interface design engenders particular beliefs in users about a system's capabilities, and that these beliefs can determine the extent to which users adapt to the system. We argue that such effects can be leveraged to improve the quality and effectiveness of human-computer interactions.

KW - Adaptation

KW - Alignment

KW - HCI

KW - Interaction technologies

KW - Language behavior

KW - Natural language

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33745822829&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:33745822829

SN - 1595931783

SN - 9781595931788

VL - 2

SP - 1177

EP - 1180

BT - CHI 2006

Y2 - 22 April 2006 through 27 April 2006

ER -

Adaptive language behavior in HCl: How expectations and beliefs about a system affect users' word choice

Abstract / Description of output

Conference

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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Cite this