University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Comparing how conversational agents’ modalities and apparent genders affects in correcting health misinformation

Rahman, Nisa

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127499

Description

Title
Comparing how conversational agents’ modalities and apparent genders affects in correcting health misinformation
Author(s)
Rahman, Nisa
Issue Date
2024-12-11
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Su, Leona Y
Committee Member(s)
  • Sar, Sela
  • Vargas, Patrick
Department of Study
Advertising
Discipline
Advertising
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Keyword(s)
  • conversational agents
  • misperceptions
  • modality
  • anthropomorphism
  • cognitive load
Abstract
This study compared the effectiveness of using conversational agents to debunk sunscreen usage related health misinformation. A 2 (agent gender: female, male) × 2 (agent modality: text-based, voice based) between-subjects experimental design was used with 775 U.S. participants. Implementing key theoretical perspectives from human-computer interaction literature and cognitive load theory, this study examines both agent gender and agent modality in how effectively interaction with conversational agents can correct misperceptions resulting from exposure to health misinformation. Results show that text-based agents are more successful in reducing misperceptions about sunscreen usage misinformation than voice-based agents. Agent gender did not significantly impact misperception after intervention, nor have an interaction with agent modality. These findings extend human-computer interaction, cognitive load theory and the transient information effect to the context of health misinformation correction. Practical implications of the study show that conversational agents hold great potential for public health communication, but it emphasizes the importance of managing cognitive load in voice-based interactions to enhance their effectiveness.
Graduation Semester
2024-12
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127499
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2024 Nisa Rahman

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