Northwestern University hosted a symposium this week addressing the methodological challenges posed by the increasing use of generative artificial intelligence in social science research. The event, convened as AI tools grow more integrated into data collection and analysis, focused on establishing standards for rigor and replicability in an evolving research landscape. Darren Gergle, the Bao Family Professor in Human-Computer Interaction at Northwestern’s School of Communication and a professor of Computer Science at Northwestern Engineering, played a key role in organizing the symposium. Gergle also codirects the Center for Human-Computer Interaction + Design (HCI+D) at the university. His research centers on human-computer interaction and social computing, with a focus on applying cognitive and social psychological theories to the design and evaluation of communication technologies. The symposium brought together researchers from multiple disciplines to discuss how to ensure the validity and reliability of findings generated with the assistance of AI. Participants explored the need to revisit foundational research methods in light of these new tools, according to organizers. Discussions centered on the potential for bias in AI algorithms and the importance of transparency in how these tools are used. Gergle’s work, supported by grants from organizations including the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Science Foundation, Google, Microsoft Research and Facebook, examines the impact of technological mediation on communication. He previously served as the Director of Graduate Studies for the Technology and Social Behavior PhD program at Northwestern, a role he held from approximately 2010 to 2020. He is also a Fellow of the Communications Residential College at Northwestern. The ACM SIGCHI Academy, one of the highest honors in the field of Human-Computer Interaction, recently inducted Gergle into its ranks, recognizing his contributions to the field. He holds a Ph.D. In Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Michigan. The university has not yet announced a follow-up event or the publication of proceedings from the symposium.
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