Can we trust a chatbot like a physician? A qualitative study on understanding the emergence of trust toward diagnostic chatbots

Publikation: Beiträge in ZeitschriftenZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungbegutachtet

Authors

Technological advancements in the virtual assistants' domain pave the way to implement complex autonomous agents like diagnostic chatbots. Drawing on the assumption that chatbots are perceived as both technological tools and social actors, we aim to create a deep understanding of trust-building processes towards diagnostic chatbots compared to trust in medical professionals. We conducted a laboratory experiment in which participants interacted either with a diagnostic chatbot only or with an additional telemedicine professional before we interviewed them primarily on trust-building factors. We identified numerous software-related, user-related, and environment-related factors and derived a model of the initial trust-building process. The results support our assumption that it is equally essential to consider dimensions of physician and technology trust. One significant finding is that trust in a chatbot arises cognitively, while trusting a human agent is affect-based. We argue that the lack of affect-based trust inhibits the willingness to rely on diagnostic chatbots and facilitates the user's desire to keep control. Considering dimensions from doctor-patient trust, we found evidence that a chatbot's communication competencies are more important than empathic reactions as the latter may evoke incredibility feelings. To verify our findings, we applied the derived code system in a larger online survey.
OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer102848
ZeitschriftInternational Journal of Human Computer Studies
Jahrgang165
ISSN1071-5819
DOIs
PublikationsstatusErschienen - 01.09.2022

Bibliographische Notiz

Funding Information:
We want to thank Anne Diedrich and Julia Woronkow for their engagement in preparing the data, their support in literature research, and the fruitful discussions. We further appreciate Justus Wildt and Ulrike Dahms for their support in data collection. Special thanks go to Alberto Hernandez and Barb?ra Ni?o for providing the chatbot prototype and technical support.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022

Zugehörige Projekte

  • Untersuchung & Design eines KI-gestützten, hybriden Kommunikationssystems in der telemedizinischen Beratung

    Projekt: Forschung

DOI