title: Criticism or praise? The impact of verbal versus text-only computer feedback on social presence, intrinsic motivation, and recall.
abstract: The Computers Are Social Actors (CASA) paradigm asserts that human computer users interact socially with computers, and has provided extensive evidence that this is the case. In this experiment (n = 134), participants received either praise or criticism from a computer. Independent variables were the direction feedback (praise or criticism), and voice channel (verbal or text-only). Dependent variables measured via a computer-based questionnaire were recall, perceived ability, intrinsic motivation, and perceptions of the computer as a social entity. Results demonstrate that participants had similar reactions to computers as predicted by interpersonal communication research with participants who received text-only criticism reporting higher levels of intrinsic motivation, perceived ability, and recall. Additionally, the computer was seen as more intelligent. Implications for theory and application are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Communication, Communication Research Center, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, USA. c.bracken@csuohio.edu
authors.forename: Cheryl Campanella
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bracken
authors.forename: Leo W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Jeffres
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Neuendorf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011932:Reading; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012938:Social Perception; D013067:Speech Perception