# Understanding Communication Preferences of Information Workers in Engagement with Text-Based Conversational Agents

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.20468 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.20468/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Placed in Social simulation and multi-agent debate, one of 16 directions in LLM agents and tool use.
- Builds on 15 of its 98 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 27 Oct 2024.

## Placed in

- LLM agents and tool use / [Social simulation and multi-agent debate](https://mlsanity.com/agents/social-simulation-and-multi-agent-debate/)

## Builds on (most cited first, 15 of 15)

- [Self-Refine: Iterative Refinement with Self-Feedback](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.17651/) (2023)
- [The Design and Implementation of XiaoIce, an Empathetic Social Chatbot](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1812.08989/) (2018)
- [CodeAid: Evaluating a Classroom Deployment of an LLM-based Programming Assistant that Balances Student and Educator Needs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.11314/) (2024)
- [Let the LLMs Talk: Simulating Human-to-Human Conversational QA via Zero-Shot LLM-to-LLM Interactions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.02913/) (2023)
- [How should my chatbot interact? A survey on human-chatbot interaction design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1904.02743/) (2019)
- [Let's Think Outside the Box: Exploring Leap-of-Thought in Large Language Models with Creative Humor Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.02439/) (2023)
- [Facilitating Self-Guided Mental Health Interventions Through Human-Language Model Interaction: A Case Study of Cognitive Restructuring](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.15461/) (2023)
- [MindfulDiary: Harnessing Large Language Model to Support Psychiatric Patients' Journaling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.05231/) (2023)
- [If I Hear You Correctly: Building and Evaluating Interview Chatbots with Active Listening Skills](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2002.01862/) (2020)
- ["If the Machine Is As Good As Me, Then What Use Am I?" -- How the Use of ChatGPT Changes Young Professionals' Perception of Productivity and Accomplishment](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.12549/) (2024)
- [Understanding Chatbot-mediated Task Management](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1802.03109/) (2018)
- [Understanding the Role of Large Language Models in Personalizing and Scaffolding Strategies to Combat Academic Procrastination](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.13581/) (2023)
- [CatAlyst: Domain-Extensible Intervention for Preventing Task Procrastination Using Large Generative Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.05678/) (2023)
- [Affective Conversational Agents: Understanding Expectations and Personal Influences](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.12459/) (2023)
- [Can a Funny Chatbot Make a Difference? Infusing Humor into Conversational Agent for Behavioral Intervention](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.00365/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [Prototypical Human-AI Collaboration Behaviors from LLM-Assisted Writing in the Wild](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.16023/) (2025)
- [HumT DumT: Measuring and controlling human-like language in LLMs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.13259/) (2025)
- [Dehumanizing Machines: Mitigating Anthropomorphic Behaviors in Text Generation Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.14019/) (2025)
- [SENSE-7: Taxonomy and Dataset for Measuring User Perceptions of Empathy in Sustained Human-AI Conversations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.16437/) (2025)
- [FeedQUAC: Quick Unobtrusive AI-Generated Commentary](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.16416/) (2025)
- [UXBench Pro: Benchmarking Personalized User Experience in Multi-Turn Dialogue Interactions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2610.11638/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Communication traits in text-based human-AI conversations play pivotal roles in shaping user experiences and perceptions of systems. With the advancement of large language models (LLMs), it is now feasible to analyze these traits at a more granular level. In this study, we explore the preferences of information workers regarding chatbot communication traits across seven applications. Participants were invited to participate in an interactive survey, which featured adjustable sliders, allowing them to adjust and express their preferences for five key communication traits: formality, personification, empathy, sociability, and humor. Our findings reveal distinct communication preferences across different applications; for instance, there was a preference for relatively high empathy in wellbeing contexts and relatively low personification in coding. Similarities in preferences were also noted between applications such as chatbots for customer service and scheduling. These insights offer crucial design guidelines for future chatbots, emphasizing the need for nuanced trait adjustments for each application.