The connection between psychology and computers is essential for advancing and design of technology that is centered around the user. However, it’s also the place where many unintended harms to people occur. That’s why we need psychologists to play a bigger role in tech development–particularly given that many technology companies change human behavior at scale and profit from behavioral changes, and generally embrace scientific innovation.
Traditionally, psychological research relies on two fundamental methods of collecting data: lab tests and surveys or interviews [1]. The former examines a specific aspect in a controlled setting, while the latter examines more general behavior using self-reporting questionnaires or (potentially) structured interviews. Both have their own limitations.
Computers can, however, process and analyze massive amounts of information at a fast speed – and in ways that traditional methods are unable to. This is why they are powerful tools for psychologists which opens up a new field of investigation. For example, a new field called Psycho(neuro)informatics is emerging that merges psychology and computer science to develop models of human brains and intelligence. This requires a team comprised of psychologists with domain expertise and computer scientists with the knowledge required to construct large-scale systems, manage and model data.
However, until recently, there was little collaboration between the fields. For instance, Google directors have been more inclined to study computer science and computational science (29 percent have studied it) in comparison to psychology (less than 2%). This has resulted in a lack of psychology in the leadership of tech companies, with the result that many tech products fail to consider psychological factors.