WS1. Conducting and Evaluating Reflexive Thematic Analysis in HCI
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/gi25-thematic-analysis-in-hci
Date: May 26, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM
Room: FIPKE 124
Organizers
• Kevin Chow Computer Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Sang-Wha Sien Computer Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, swsien@cs.ubc.ca
• Rimika Chaudhury Computing Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, rimika_chaudhury@sfu.ca
• Parmit K Chilana Computing Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
• Jiamin Dai Department of Computer Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, jdai24@cs.ubc.ca
Abstract
Reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) is widely used and valued in HCI research, but its application in HCI requires careful consideration in theoretical standing and research practices. Critical needs and opportunities arise for HCI communities to build a deeper understanding of RTA and reflect on conducting and evaluating RTA in HCI. This in-person course at GI’25 will bring together researchers and students of all backgrounds to enhance their understanding of and practice in RTA through accessible, hands-on activities. It will offer active learning for core RTA concepts, focused RTA topics tailored to participant interests, and reporting and evaluating RTA. We will take a timely step towards collectively building research, mentoring, and reviewing strategies for implementing RTA in HCI studies.
WS2. The Role of AI-Empowered Machine Subjectivity in HCI Tasks
Website: https://bit.ly/subjectivity-workshop
Date: May 26, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM
Room: FIPKE 204
Organizers
• Paula Akemi Aoyagui Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, paula.aoyagui@mail.utoronto.ca
• Jessica Y Bo Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, jbo@cs.toronto.edu
• Anastasia Kuzminykh Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, anastasia.kuzminykh@utoronto.ca Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, anastasia.kuzminykh@utoronto.ca
• Sharon A Ferguson Management Science and Engineering, University of Waterloo, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, sharon.ferguson@uwaterloo.ca
Abstract
While computational systems have traditionally been designed for objective tasks with clear right and wrong answers, technological advances such as Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) now enable systems to express forms of subjectivity inherited from human training data—–including opinions, preferences, and stylistic choices. This capability is particularly useful to support subjective computer tasks in creative arts (e.g., art generation), personalization (e.g., content curation), and decision-making (e.g., content moderation). Nonetheless, the integration of machine subjectivity also raises concerns, as known risks are associated with using GenAI, including minimizing creative thought and perpetuating biases. This workshop invites participants to collaboratively explore diverse applications of machine subjectivity across HCI subfields and discuss their implications. Through diverse input and structured activities, we aim to develop a taxonomy of subjective computer tasks, identify associated risks, and create principles to advance the responsible integration of subjectivity in HCI.
WS3. The Annual Meeting of Canadian Human-Computer Interaction Educators
Date: May 26, 2025
Room: FIPKE 204
Time: 1:30 PM
Organizers
• Cosmin Munteanu Department of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
• Olivier St-Cyr Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Abstract
We are approaching the 40 years mark since the launch of the SIGCHI Curriculum Development Group (CDG), who led the development of the foundational ACM SIGCHI Curricula for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Published in 1992, the Curricula included a working definition of HCI as well as examples of individual courses. This publication was vital to the establishment and growth of HCI education programs. CDG Chair Tom Hewett noted in the Preface that the report was meant to be “the first iteration” of the product, with plans for iterative refinement over time. Since then, the fields of HCI and more recently, User Experience design (UX), show no slowing in its headlong rush towards the future. The internet of things, virtual reality, wearable computing, user interfaces for intelligence systems, generative AI, are just some of many exciting new areas that HCI is expanding into. It is thus timely to capitalize on this strong rise in the fields of HCI and UX to maintain our efforts on maintaining the relevance of HCI and UX education, and to continue defining and refining the curricula and pedagogical canons of this discipline.