Computer Interviewing Research Group

Computer Interviewing Research Group

Introduction

Using a computer to interview people has been shown to be an effective method of eliciting information, in particular, when the information is of a personal or embarrassing nature. The impersonal, non-judgmental, patient "nature" of the computer seems to enhance the dialogue.

This group is interested in applying computer-based interviews, understanding the human-computer interaction which takes place when people are interacting with a computer in such situations, and also other computer-based interventions which may be used in therpeutic situations.

Research Group

Dr Norman Alm, Dr Peter Gregor, Professor Alan Newell & Dr Ramanee Peiris, Department of Applied Computing
Professor Bryan Williams, Department of Social Work
Dr Lawrence Elliott, School of Nursing and Midwifery

Specific Projects

Rape crisis

A piece of software has been produced for Dundee Women's Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre, which allow survivors to explore their emotions, write diaries and also to find information.

Alcohol counselling

A short trial project indicated some value in using a computer-based interview to gather personal and drinking history information from clients at an alcohol counselling centre. We have been conducting a more detailed study in different centres, from medical and social work to counselling and prison.

Usability Engineering

A new project is just starting to investigate the role of computer-based interviewing and similar tools for use in user-centred design. The project will identify good practice techniques from usability engineering and computer-based interviewing, and will simulate these in computer software. The package developed will be evaluated with industrial human factors experts, and a usability engineering process which includes the use of this package will be developed.

Project web site

Simulating interpersonal interactions

We investigated a number of ways to make the computer interview process more effective. Firstly by identifying those techniques used by professional interviewers to enhance interpersonal interviewing, and then developing computer interviewing software packages which simulated the techniques identified. Finally, experiments compared computer interviews which simulated human interviewer techniques with those which did not. The research concentrate on the structure of the interaction, making it less like a questionnaire and more like an informal conversation.

The results showed that the most effective computer interviewer combines a simulation of the techniques which make interpersonal interviewing more effective with the helpful, non-human characteristics of a computer.

Publications

K. Hands, P. Gregor, D.R. Peiris and A. F. Newell (2001) A computer-based interviewing tool for usability engineering (UsE-IT), in: CHINS 2001 Consumer Health Informatics Network Scotland, Glasgow

D.R.Peiris, P.Gregor and N.Alm (2000). The effects of simulating human conversational style in a computer-based interview. Interacting with Computers 12:635-650.

D.R.Peiris, B.Williams, K.W.Fraser and S.Cumming (2000). ENHANCE - A computer-based counselling tool for women survivors of sexual violence. Abstracts of Psychology of Women Conference 2000, Dundee.

B.Williams, D.R.Peiris, P.Gregor, N.Alm, S.Cumming, G.Flockhart and M.Groundwater (1999). Computer-based interventions for assisting people who have suffered disabling trauma. New Technology in the Human Services vol. 12 69-75.

K.W.Fraser (1999). 'Enhance' Counselling Tool. Unpublished MSc Thesis, University of Dundee

S. Cumming (1999). Expressing Feelings: The Development and Evaluation of Computer-Assisted Therapy for Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Unpublished MSW thesis, University of Dundee

M. Groundwater (1998). An Information Gathering Computer Interview For Tayside Council On Alcohol.Unpublished MSc thesis University of Dundee

D.R.Peiris (1997). Computer Interviews: Enhancing their Effectiveness by Simulating Interpersonal Techniques. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Dundee.

D.R.Peiris, N.Alm and P.Gregor (1995). Computer Interviews - an initial investigation using free text responses.. Proceedings of HCI '95 People and Computers August 1995 (M.A.R.Kirby, A.J.Dix and J.E.Finlay (Eds)), 281-288.

P.Gregor and A.F.Newell (1994) Can computer aid the process of interviewing young people? British Journal of Educational Technology vol. 25 228-230.

P. Gregor (1991). Computer-based interviewing: steps towards the development of a generic system for serious and sensitive information. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Dundee.

H.G.Morton and N.Alm (1990). Computer-aided interviewing of parents in a child psychiatric clinic. Journal of Microcomputer Applications vol. 13 273-280.