Category: Technology

Refusal as Silence: Gendered disparities in Vision-Language Model Responses

 New Media and Society (2026) Authors: Sha Luo, Sang Jung Kim, Zening Duan, Kaiping Chen Abstract: Refusal behavior by Large Language Models (LLMs) is increasingly visible in content moderation, yet little is known about how refusals vary by the identity of the user making the request. This study investigates refusal as a sociotechnical outcome through a …

Is Your Chatbot a Tourist or a Townie? Quantifying Geographic and Localness Disparities in LLM Representations of Place

Proceedings of the ACM Human-Computer Interaction (2026) Authors: Zihan Gao and Jacob Thebault-Spieker Abstract: People are increasingly using Large Language Models (LLMs) for a sense of “localness,” yet their ability to accurately and equitably represent local knowledge remains unexamined. To investigate this, we conducted a large-scale evaluation using a benchmark of over 12,000 question-answer pairs spanning …

Trace Methods: Probing the Apparatus

Digital Trace Data Research in Information Systems (2026) Authors: Carsten Østerlund  and Corey B. Jackson  Abstract: Digital trace data has become increasingly attractive as a source of insight for understanding and evaluating human behavior in computer information systems. Trace data provide rich insights into organizational practices and human behaviors but pose significant methodological challenges due …

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Artificial Intelligence and Childhood Education: A Critical Systematic Review

Journal of Research in Childhood Education (2025) Authors: Ran Liu and Carla Glave Abstract: This critical systematic review explores narratives surrounding justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) in childhood and general education. Analyzing 87 peer-reviewed articles from the past decade, this study highlights an increasing academic and societal …

Toward Teacher-Centered AI Design: Exploring the Role of Pedagogical Values and Contextual Factors in K-12 Teachers’ Perceptions of Responsible AI

Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (2025, Conference Paper)* Authors: Yaxuan Yin, Shamya Karumbaiah, Ju Lim, Shona Acquaye, Sara Schwartz *Won Best Paper Award at the International Society of the Learning Sciences Conference Abstract: Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) offer transformative opportunities for education, yet the alignment between Responsible AI principles and K-12 educators’ pedagogical values remains …

AIBAT: AI Behavior Analysis Tool for Teacher-Driven Contextual Evaluation of Language Models in Education

Artificial Intelligence in Education (2025, Conference Paper)* Authors: Shamya Karumbaiah, Yaxuan Yin, Aayush Bharadwaj *Won Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education Abstract: With the increasing reliance of AIED on opaque, black-box scaffolds such as large language models to support student learning, there is a growing concern about their limitations …

Leveling Up or Dropping Out: Searching for Learning Routines in Crowdsourced Environments

Proceedings of the ACM Human-Computer Interaction (2025) Authors: Corey Jackson, Carsten Østerlund, Anand Vamsi, Alexander O. Smith, Karsten Crowston Abstract: We explore patterns of interaction with different learning resources (e.g., forums) to predict learning outcomes in an online citizen science project called Gravity Spy. To explore how volunteers engage with and benefit from these resources, …

Uncovering Gender Stereotypes in Controversial Science Discourse: Evidence from Computational Text and Visual Analyses Across Digital Platforms

Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (2024) Authors: Kaiping Chen, Zening Duan, Sang Jung Kim Abstract: This study examines how gender stereotypes are reflected in discourses around controversial science issues across two platforms, YouTube and TikTok. Utilizing the Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects, we developed hypotheses and research questions about how content creators might use gender-related stereotypes to …

Conversational AI and Equity Through Assessing GPT-3’s Communication with Diverse Social Groups on Contentious Topics

Scientific Reports (2024) Authors: Kaiping Chen, Anqi Shao, Jirayu Burapacheep, Yixuan Li Abstract: Autoregressive language models, which use deep learning to produce human-like texts, have surged in prevalence. Despite advances in these models, concerns arise about their equity across diverse populations. While AI fairness is discussed widely, metrics to measure equity in dialogue systems are lacking. This …

How Partisan Media Influences Aversion to Political Compromise

Media and Communication (2025) Authors: Yoo Ji Suh, Dhavan Shah, Mike Wagner. Abstract: We investigate how partisan media during and after the 2020 US presidential (Study 1) and 2022 midterm (Study 2) elections influenced preferences for unyielding politicians who do not compromise with partisan opponents. Our findings suggest that partisan media use may undermine willingness …