11.6.23: Work in progress
12.4.23: Updated instrument, design guidelines, writing sample(proposal), presentation
Designing Digital Experience for Self-Reflection: A Validation Framework.
Saharath Noisuwan
University of Maryland, College Park
INST 878: Research Seminar on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)
- Introduction
Self-reflection environments within Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) have garnered notable interest for their capacity to improve user experiences and well-being. As technology advances, it becomes increasingly capable of facilitating the understanding and visualization of one’s behaviors, habits, and thoughts [1]. In the past, scholars have highlighted the unclear definition of reflection in broader literature [2] and the absence of consensus when it comes to evaluating technology for supporting reflection [3]. Despite both historical and recent literature still striving to create systems that encourage reflection, the selection of suitable tools remains uncertain [4].
One potential way to broaden our horizons is to incorporate insights from social psychology. HCI has traditionally focused on improving individual experiences, but there is a growing recognition of the inherently social nature of technology use. By considering the social aspects of technology use, HCI researchers can design systems that facilitate social interactions and enhance the overall user experience [5]. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) [6] has emerged as a well-established and frequently utilized theory in HCI research [7][8][9]. SDT specifically examines the interplay between fundamental psychological needs, intrinsic motivation, and positive experiences and overall well-being [8]. By evaluating self-reflection environments within SDT, researchers can uncover how these environments either support or hinder these fundamental psychological needs. This, in turn, contributes to enhancing user motivation, engagement, and ultimately their well-being [7].
In pursuit of this objective, this paper presents a scale designed for assessing the system’s capacity to facilitate individual self-reflection. The study begins by discussing related work associated with the definition of reflection, designing for reflection in HCI, related social psychology theories and existing scales for reflection. Next, we describe the process of developing the scale and the use of an exploratory factor analysis to reduce and optimize the number of scale items. Subsequently, we report on the validation of the scale, and finally, we discuss the use and limitations of the new scale.