# Inform the uninformed: Improving Online Informed Consent Reading with an AI-Powered Chatbot

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.00832 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.00832/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 8 of its 91 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 2 Feb 2023.

## Builds on (most cited first, 8 of 8)

- [Language Models are Few-Shot Learners](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.14165/) (2020)
- [Training language models to follow instructions with human feedback](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.02155/) (2022)
- [Language (Technology) is Power: A Critical Survey of "Bias" in NLP](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.14050/) (2020)
- [DialoGPT: Large-Scale Generative Pre-training for Conversational Response Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1911.00536/) (2019)
- [If I Hear You Correctly: Building and Evaluating Interview Chatbots with Active Listening Skills](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2002.01862/) (2020)
- [Tell Me About Yourself: Using an AI-Powered Chatbot to Conduct Conversational Surveys with Open-ended Questions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1905.10700/) (2019)
- [What should I Ask: A Knowledge-driven Approach for Follow-up Questions Generation in Conversational Surveys](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.10977/) (2022)
- [Powering an AI Chatbot with Expert Sourcing to Support Credible Health Information Access](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.10710/) (2023)

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [ChoiceMates: Supporting Unfamiliar Online Decision-Making with Multi-Agent Conversational Interactions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.01331/) (2023)
- [Generative Echo Chamber? Effects of LLM-Powered Search Systems on Diverse Information Seeking](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.05880/) (2024)
- [Can Workers Meaningfully Consent to Workplace Wellbeing Technologies?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.07242/) (2023)
- [On LLM Wizards: Identifying Large Language Models' Behaviors for Wizard of Oz Experiments](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.08067/) (2024)
- [AccessShare: Co-designing Data Access and Sharing with Blind People](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.19351/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Informed consent is a core cornerstone of ethics in human subject research. Through the informed consent process, participants learn about the study procedure, benefits, risks, and more to make an informed decision. However, recent studies showed that current practices might lead to uninformed decisions and expose participants to unknown risks, especially in online studies. Without the researcher's presence and guidance, online participants must read a lengthy form on their own with no answers to their questions. In this paper, we examined the role of an AI-powered chatbot in improving informed consent online. By comparing the chatbot with form-based interaction, we found the chatbot improved consent form reading, promoted participants' feelings of agency, and closed the power gap between the participant and the researcher. Our exploratory analysis further revealed the altered power dynamic might eventually benefit study response quality. We discussed design implications for creating AI-powered chatbots to offer effective informed consent in broader settings.