PhD Study : Exploring speech-based chatbots to facilitate cognitive reminiscence for people living with dementia

Summary

Background: Reminiscence has been defined as ‘the discussion of past activities, events and experiences with another person or group of people’ (Woods et al. 2005).  Prompts such as photographs, music and film clips are typically used to stimulate recall.  The majority of research in reminiscence systems has been carried out to assist people with dementia and related conditions (Astell et al. 2010; Woods et al. 2012). The team behind this proposal recently completed the InspireD  (Individual Specific Reminiscence in Dementia) study which investigated the impact of technology-facilitated reminiscence on people living with dementia.

The InspireD findings indicated statistically significant enhancements in mutuality, emotional well-being and quality of care-giving relationship for the participants living with dementia.   Qualitative data yielded strong revelatory statements from carers such as “there is still so much inside” indicating the influence of reminiscence on meaningful social conversations between carers and people living with dementia. Our proposed conversational reminiscence study has been designed to build on the success of the InspireD ground-breaking research and to provide an opportunity for more natural digital modalities such as speech-based, conversational systems to facilitate reminiscence (Wolters et al. 2016).

Aim:  The aim of this study is to assess the extent to which speech-based chatbots can offer conversational reminiscence for people living with dementia.

Objectives:

1) recruit and engage with people living with dementia to assess user needs, identify outcome measures and evaluate conversational reminiscence viability;

2) assemble a simple speech-based chatbot using existing conversational interface technologies as building blocks;

3) identify relevant validated scales;

4) carry out a quasi-experimental research study with people living with dementia; and

5) analyse experimental data from the study.

Method and Design: A user centred design process philosophy (Payne et al. 2008) will guide the assembly of the speech-based chatbot.   Then a quasi-experimental, repeated measures design will be conducted with each participant serving as his or her own control to assess the viability of using a speech-based conversational interface for reminiscing conversations for people living with dementia in their home environment.

Procedures: The project team and the PhD researcher will assemble a conversational chatbot, implemented on a ‘smart speaker’ platform such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home. The chatbot will be capable of having simple conversations with people living with dementia, seeking to elicit memories, extract relevant facts from open data and discuss them to facilitate conversational reminiscence.

Setting and sample: The project will recruit around 20 people living with dementia to participate in a 12-week trial to make use of the chatbot. Recruitment will be in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Society and through the memory clinic in Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT). Ethical and governance approval will be sought from the Office for Research Ethics Committees Northern Ireland (ORECNI) and the WHSCT respectively.

Outcomes: Validated outcome measures related to quality of life for people living with dementia and their use of the technology will be used. We will disseminate findings using academic, peer-reviewed journals for the scientific outcomes and through national media for the societal outcomes.

The successful candidate will be expected to have a degree in Computer Science or a closely related area.  Experience of working in healthcare and/or with older people would be desirable.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Masters at 65%
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Institute of Mental Health Sciences

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living