Headshot of Cheng Chen

Cheng Chen

Assistant Professor of Communication Design

Department: Communication Design

Office and address: Schar Hall- Communications Bld, office 210C 2850 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244

Phone number: (336) 278-2986

Professional Expertise

Psychology of Communication Technologies, Human-AI Interaction, and UX and UI Design

Brief Biography

Dr. Cheng "Chris" Chen is an assistant professor in the School of Communications at Elon University's communication design department. Dr. Chen obtained her doctoral degree in mass communications from Pennsylvania State University.

Her teaching expertise falls into the area of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design with new media technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). She is teaching CDE 2580 Principles of Communication Design, CDE 3180 Writing and Research in Design, and COMM 1100 The Global Experience in Spring 2025.

Dr. Chen examines the psychology of new media technology, focusing on how AI affordances and algorithmic attributes influence users' perceptions and trust in the systems. Her research goal is to promote better human-computer interaction that serves users’ needs by taking into account their welfare. Chris’s most recent publications have appeared in Communication Research, Human-Computer Interaction, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, New Media & Society, Social Media Society, and Telecommunications Policy, and major international conferences, such as AEJMC, ICA, NCA, and CHI.

    Education

    • Ph.D. in Mass Communications, Pennsylvania State University, USA
    • M.Phil. in Communication, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    • M.Sc. in New Media,The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    • B.A. in TV and Film Production, Hunan University, Changsha, China

    Courses Taught

    • Web and Mobile Design
    • The Global Experience – Effects of Artificial Intelligence
    • Writing and Research in Design
    • Web and Mobile Communications
    • Application and Interface Development 

    Grants Awarded

    2024 Summer Professional Development Fund ($345), School of Communications, Elon University

    ChatGPT and AI Teaching & Learning Workshop through OnCourse

    2024 CWE Research into Writing Scholarship ($3,000), Writing Across University, Elon University

    Project: Understanding the effects of AI involvement and students’ AI use disclosure in instructors’ evaluation of the students and their writing

    2024 Mini-grant ($500), Center for the Advancement of Teaching & Learning, Elon University

    Project: The effect of prompt coaching on users’ perceptions, engagement, and trust in Generative AI tools

    2024 Data Nexus Faculty Grants ($1000), Elon University

    Project: Underrepresented students' use and perceptions of Generative AI

    2024 Academic Technology Committee Grant ($120), Elon University

    Purpose: GPT-4 subscription for teaching conversational interface design

    2023 Faculty Research ($500) - Communication Design Department, School of Communication

    Project: When to explain? Effects of explanation timing on users’ perceptions of algorithmic bias.

    2023 New Faculty Summer Research Grant ($4,500), FR&D, Elon University

    Project: Effect of Autoplay countdown timer on users' rabbit hole perception

    2023 Center of Writing Excellence Reimbursable Fund ($1,000), Elon University

    Project: Understanding college educators' AI anxiety

    2023 Writing Across University Reimbursable Fund ($300), Elon University

    Project: Understanding college students’ AI adoption intention

    Publications

    • Chen, C., DiRusso, C, Shao, R., Yang, H, Krieger, M., & Sundar, S. S. (accepted). What do users get out of Artificial Intelligence? Construction and validation of an AI gratifications scale. Journal of Communication Technology.
    • Chen, C., & Sundar, S. S. (2024). Communicating and combating algorithmic bias: Effects of data diversity, labeler diversity, performance bias, and user feedback on AI trust. Human-Computer Interaction. https://doi.org/10.1080/07370024.2024.2392494
    • Chen, C., Liao, M, Walther, J. B., & Sundar, S. S. (2024). When an AI doctor gets personal: The effects of social and medical individuation in encounters with human and AI doctors. Communication Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241263482
    • Chen, C., Kang, J., Karmaseh, P., & Sundar, S. S. (2024). Preventing users from going down rabbit holes of extreme video content: A study of the role played by different modes of autoplay. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 103303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2024.103303
    • Chen, C., Lee, S., Jang, E., & Sundar, S. S. (2024, September 16-18). Is your prompt detailed enough? Exploring the effects of prompt coaching on users’ perceptions, engagement, and trust in text-to-image generative AI tools. Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Trustworthy Autonomous Systems (TAS’24). Austin, TX, USA. https://doi.org/10.1145/3686038.3686060
    • Chen, C., Liao, M., & Sundar, S. S. (2024, September 16-18). When to explain? Exploring the effects of explanation timing on user perceptions and trust in AI systems. Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Trustworthy Autonomous Systems (TAS’24). Austin, TX, USA. https://doi.org/10.1145/3686038.3686066
    • Wei, L., Schmierbach, M., Liu, B., Kang, J., Chen, C., Dardis, F., & Tan, Y. (2024). Amplifying player experience to facilitate prosocial outcomes in a narrative-based serious game. Media and Communication, 13, Article 8637. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.8637
    • Jung, Y., Chen, C., Jang, E., Sundar, S. S. (2024, May 11-16). Do we trust ChatGPT as much as Google Search and Wikipedia. Extended Abstract of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Honolulu, Hawai’i. https://doi.org/10.1145/3613905.3650862
    • Liao, M., Wang, J., Chen, C., & Sundar, S. S. (2023). Less vigilant in the mobile era? A comparison of information processing on mobile phones and personal computers. New Media & Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448231209475
    • Leung, L., & Chen, C. (2023). Cyber behaviors of the Net Generation. In Z. Yan (Ed.), Cambridge Handbook of Cyber Behavior (pp. 9-38). Cambridge University Press.
    • Chen, C., & Sundar, S. S. (2023). Is this AI trained on credible data? The effects of labeling quality and performance bias on user trust. Proceedings of the 2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Hamburg, Germany. https://doi.org/10.1145/3544548.3580805
    • Chen, C., Lee, S., & Sundar, S. S. (2023). Interpassivity instead of Interactivity? The uses and gratifications of automated features. Behaviour & Information Technology. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2023.2184174
    • Chen, C., Cohen, O., & Sundar, S. S. (2022). Differentiating problematic from habitual Instagram use: A Uses & Grats 2.0 perspective. Social Media + Society, 8(3), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051221116339
    • Chen, C., Krieger, M. L., & Sundar, S. S. (2021). Smartphones, robots and social media: aging with communication technologies. In K. W. Schaie and S. L. Willis (Eds.), Handbook of Psychology of Aging (pp. 139–150). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816094-7.00014-3
    • Chen, J., Chen, C., Joseph B. Walther, & Sundar, S. S. (2021, May 8-13). Do you feel special when an AI doctor remembers you? Individuation effects of AI vs. human doctor on user experience. Extended Abstracts of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Yokohama, Japan. https://doi.org/10.1145/3411763.3451735
    • Chen, C. (2020). Playing mobile games for stress recovery purposes: A survey of Chinese adolescents. Telematics and Informatics, 56, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2020.101481
    • Leung, L., & Chen, C. (2019). E-health/m-health adoption and lifestyle improvements: Exploring the roles of technology readiness, the expectation-confirmation model, and health-related information activities. Telecommunications Policy, 43(6), 563–575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2019.01.005
    • Leung, L., & Chen, C. (2018). A review of media addiction research from 1991 to 2016. Social Science Computer Review, 39(4), 648–665. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439318791770
    • Leung, L., & Chen, C. (2017). Extending the theory of planned behavior: A study of lifestyles, contextual factors, mobile viewing habits, TV content interest, and intention to adopt mobile TV. Telematics and Informatics, 34(8), 1638–1649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2017.07.010
    • Chen, C., & Leung, L. (2016). Are you addicted to Candy Crush Saga? An exploratory study linking psychological factors to mobile social game addiction. Telematics and Informatics, 33(4), 1155–1166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2015.11.005

    Presentations

     

    • Chen, C. (2024, August 8-11). Building AI chatbot with no-code. Panel presentation at the 107th annual AEJMC conference, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

    • Chen, C., Xu, Q., Jiang, K., & Cheng, Y. (2024, April 29). Understanding college students’ AI adoption intention: A perspective of interactive communication technology adoption model. Paper presented at SOTL Showcase, Elon University.

    • Chen, C., Jang, E., & Sundar, S. S. (2024, June 20-24). Racial bias in AI: How does training data representativeness affect layperson perceptions of fairness? Paper to be presented at the 74th Annual ICA Conference. Gold Coast, Australia.
    • Wei, L., Schmierbach, M., Liu, B., Kang, J., Chen, C., Dardis, F., Tan, R., & Cohen, O. (2023, November). Amplifying player experience to facilitate prosocial outcomes in a narrative-based serious game. Paper presented at ECREA Digital Games Research Section Symposium (“Digital Games at the Forefront of Change - On the Meaningfulness of Games and Game Studies”), Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
    • Chen, C., & Sundar, S. S. (2023, May 25-29). When an AI system is Racially Biased: Does Machine Heuristic Override Expectancy Violations? Paper to be presented at the 73rd Annual ICA Conference. Toronto, Ontario.
    • Chen, C., Liao, M, Walther, J. B., & Sundar, S. S. (2023, May 25-29). When an AI doctor gets personal: The differential effects of social vs. medical individuation. Paper to be presented at the 73rd Annual ICA Conference. Toronto, Ontario.
    • Chen, C., Sangwook L., & Sundar, S. S. (2022, May 26-30). Interpassivity instead of interactivity? The uses and gratifications of automated features. Paper to be presented at the Hybrid 72nd Annual ICA Conference. Paris, France.
    • Liao, M., Wang, J., Chen, C., & Sundar, S. S. (2022, May 26-30). Mindlessness in the mobile era? A comparison of information processing on mobile phones and personal computers. Paper to be presented at the Hybrid 72nd Annual ICA Conference. Paris, France.
    • Chen, C. & Sundar, S. S. (2021, October 6–7). Combating algorithmic bias: Should AI media show and tell to gain user trust? Poster presented at the 2021 ICDS Symposium on Fairness of Machine Learning. State College, PA, USA.
    • Tan, R., & Chen, C. (2021, August 4–7). Community building with Discord: Effects of interface elements on user perceptions and experiences with Discord servers. Paper presented at the virtual 104th annual AEJMC conference.
    • Liao, M, Wang, J., Chen, C., & Sundar, S. S. (2021, May 27–31). Mindlessness in the mobile era? A comparison of information processing on mobile phones and personal computers. Paper presented at the virtual 71st annual ICA conference.
    • Erlichman, S., Oliver, M. B., Olivia, R., Tan, R., & Chen, C. (2020, November 19–22). Long-term engagement with films: An experimental test of the importance of narrative endings. Paper presented at the 106th annual convention of National Communication Association.
    • Chen, C., Gambino, A., & Sundar, S. S. (2020, May 20–27). Why passive social media monitoring isn’t always bad? Paper presented at the 70th annual conference of International Communication Association, Gold Coast, Australia. (converted to virtual due to COVID-19)
    • Erlichman, S. R., Oliver, M. B., Reed, O., Tan, R., Chen, C., & Ford, S. (2019, November 14–17). Ambiguous movie endings: Effects of perceived complexity and affective responses on long-term engagement. Paper presented at the 105th annual conference of National Communication Association, Baltimore, MD.
    • Chen, C., Cohen, O., Sundar, S. S. (2019, August 6–10). Problematic Instagram use: Are certain affordances and gratifications responsible for addictive behavior? Paper presented at the 102nd annual conference of Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Toronto, Canada.
    • Chen, C., DiRusso, C. D., Yang, H., Shao, R. S., Krieger, M, L., & Sundar, S. S. (2019, August 6–10). Alexa, Netflix and Siri: User perceptions of AI-driven technologies. Paper presented at the 102nd annual conference of Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Toronto, Canada.
    • Erlichman, S. R., Reed, O., Tan, R., Chen, C., Ford, S., & Oliver, M. B. (2019, May 24–28). Talking about Inception: How unresolved movie endings impact audiences’ responses to film. Paper presented at the 69th annual conference of International Communication Association, Washington DC, USA.
    • Chen, C., & Cohen, O. (2019, March 6–7). Risk factors of problematic Instagram use: A technological addiction perspective. Paper presented at AEJMC 2019 Midwinter Conference, Oklahoma City, USA.
    • Leung, L., & Chen, C. (2018, August 6–9). A review of media addiction from 1991 to 2016. Paper presented at the 101st annual conference of Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Washington DC, USA.
    • Chen, C. (2018, May 27–31). Mobile gaming and recovery: Exploring the impact of stress and recovery experience on the use of mobile games for stress recovery. Paper presented at the 68th annual conference of International Communication Association, Prague, Czech Republic.
    • Chen, C., & Leung, L. (2018, May 27–31). Exploring the relationships among motivations, playing styles, and the positive outcomes of playing augmented reality games: Extending the theory of uses and gratifications 1.0. Paper presented at the 68th annual conference of International Communication Association, Prague, Czech Republic.
    • Leung, L., & Chen, C. (2017, August 9–12). Lifestyles, mobile viewing habits, contextual factors, and TV content interest as predictors of the intention to adopt mobile TV. Paper presented at the 100th annual conference of Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Chicago, USA.
    • Leung, L., & Chen, C. (2017, June 24–27). M-health adoption in Hong Kong: An expectation-confirmation perspective exploring the roles of technology readiness, motivations, and m-health activities on lifestyle improvement. Paper presented at the 14th ITS Asia-Pacific Conference, Kyoto, Japan.
    • Chen, C., & Chen, Z. (2016, August 4–7). The impacts of WeChat Communication and parenting styles on parent-child relationship quality: Evidence from emerging adults in China. Paper presented at the 99th annual conference of Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Minneapolis, USA.
    • Kim, S. J., Um, N. H., & Chen, C. (2016, June 1–3). Consumer engagement on WeChat: Can it be a powerful advertising channel? Paper presented at the 6th International Conference–Digital Media & Electronic Communication, Le Havre, France.
    • Chen, C., & Leung, L. (2015, May 21–25). Are you addicted to Candy Crush Saga? An exploratory study linking psychological factors to mobile social game addiction. Paper presented at the 65th annual conference of International Communication Association, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

    Skills

    Audio Editing: Adobe Audition CC

    Chatbot Design: Flow XO, LandBot, Custom GPT

    Data Analytics: Google Analytics, Simmons

    Data Analysis: SPSS, Amos, Mplus, JMP

    Graphic Design: Adobe Photoshop

    Research Methods: Interviews, Focus group, Survey, Experiment, Content analysis

    Content Management: Drupal, Hootsuite

    Web Programming/Development: HTML5, CSS3

    Website Design: Wix.com

    Wireframing & Prototyping: Figma, Axure RP

    Video Editing: Adobe Premiere Pro, Vegas Pro

    Awards

    2024 TAS’24 Travel Award ($1,231), TAS.

    2023 Gary Marsden Travel Award for CHI 2023 Presentation ($2,500), CHI 2023