Expression of Personality through Avatars: Analysis of Effects of Gender and Race on Perceptions of Personality

  • Authors:

  • Jennifer Cloud-Buckner;Michael Sellick;Bhanuteja Sainathuni;Betty Yang;Jennie Gallimore

  • Affiliations:

  • Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering, Wright State University, Dayton, USA 45435;Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering, Wright State University, Dayton, USA 45435;Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering, Wright State University, Dayton, USA 45435;Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering, Wright State University, Dayton, USA 45435;Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering, Wright State University, Dayton, USA 45435

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction. Part III: Ubiquitous and Intelligent Interaction
  • Year:
  • 2009

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Abstract

Avatars and virtual agents are used in social, military, educational, medical, training, and other applications. Although there is a need to develop avatars with human-like characteristics, many applications include avatars based on stereotypes. Prabhala and Gallimore (2007) conducted research to develop collaborative computer agents with personality. Using the Big Five Factor Model of personality they investigated how people perceive personality based on actions, language, and behaviors of two voice-only computer agents in a simulation. However, these computer agents included no visual features in order to avoid stereotypes. The objective of the current research extends the work of Prabhala and Gallimore by investigating the effects of personality, race, and gender on perceived personality of avatars with animated faces. Results showed that subjects were able to distinguish the different personalities and race and gender significantly affected perceptions on a trait-by-trait basis.