Understanding Agency in Human-Computer Interaction Design

This paper presents the research around the concept and idea of agency in the context of human-computer interaction (HCI) design. The notion of agency is made up of several elements and therefore should not be considered as a rigid concept. This work proposes a framework for understanding agency in HCI that considers the main elements that must be taken into account in the design and evaluation of interactive artifacts. The framework is composed of four main elements: mental models, affordances, reciprocity and responsiveness. Two elements related to the cognitive processes that allow people to perceive and make decisions and two elements related to the response processes generated by technological devices to people’s actions. Each of these four main elements is specified by three attributes organized in levels. The proposed framework has been evaluated through focus groups, involving design practitioners. The results show that the concept of agency not well known in interaction design practice and that a framework can facilitate its implementation in design processes and projects.