Bots as Virtual Confederates: Design and Ethics

摘要: The use of bots as virtual confederates in online field experiments holds extreme promise a new methodological tool computational social science. However, this potential comes with inherent ethical challenges. Informed consent can be difficult to obtain many cases, and the necessarily implies deception. In work we outline design space for confederates, propose set guidelines meeting status quo experimentation. We draw upon examples from prior CSCW community broader science literature illustration. While handful researchers have used experimentation, our is meant inspire future area raise awareness associated issues.