HCI Construct Framework
Canonical constructs underpinning HCI’s longitudinal measurement framework. These constructs provide stable reference points for understanding how increasingly intelligent systems influence human behaviour, cognition, trust, attention, agency, meaning, and lived experience over time.
Each construct captures an observable part of human experience while linking behavioural measurement back to broader human capacities such as autonomy, self-trust, clarity, meaning, and intentionality.
How to use this framework
The Construct Framework defines the stable measurement units used across HCI datasets, summaries, reports, and longitudinal systems. Each construct belongs to a Human Reference Layer (HRL) domain and maintains a defined longitudinal role (Anchor, Spine, or Extension) to support comparability across time.
Together, these constructs help organise how HCI measures behavioural systems and interprets how intelligent environments interact with deeper human capacities over time.
agency Anchor perception Stable
Definition: Perceived control over decisions, ability to intervene in AI-supported processes, and confidence in independent judgement and self-direction.
HRL domain: Agency & Decision Autonomy
Registry reference: HCI-AGENCY-01
decision_dependence Spine behaviour_tendency Stable
Definition: Behavioural tendency to delegate, offload, or defer decisions to AI systems under uncertainty, pressure, or difficulty.
HRL domain: Agency & Decision Autonomy
Registry reference: HCI-DECISION_DEPENDENCE-01
responsibility_attribution Anchor perception Stable
Definition: Clarity regarding responsibility and accountability in AI-mediated outcomes.
HRL domain: Agency & Decision Autonomy
Registry reference: HCI-RESPONSIBILITY_ATTRIBUTION-01
epistemic_confidence Spine perception Stable
Definition: Confidence in one’s ability to judge what is reliable, real, or accurate within digital and AI-mediated environments.
HRL domain: Trust & Epistemic Stability
Registry reference: HCI-EPISTEMIC_CONFIDENCE-01
trust_calibration Spine belief_allocation Stable
Definition: How trust is allocated toward AI systems and digital sources — including overtrust and undertrust tendencies.
HRL domain: Trust & Epistemic Stability
Registry reference: HCI-TRUST_CALIBRATION-01
risk_perception Spine threat_assessment Stable
Definition: Perceived likelihood and severity of harm arising from AI systems or digital environments.
HRL domain: Trust & Epistemic Stability
Registry reference: HCI-RISK_PERCEPTION-01
attention_capacity Anchor capacity Stable
Definition: Perceived ability to sustain attention, maintain cognitive clarity, avoid fragmentation, and recover from disruption.
HRL domain: Attention & Cognitive Load
Registry reference: HCI-ATTENTION_CAPACITY-01
cognitive_load Anchor strain Stable
Definition: Mental strain, overload, and perceived cognitive burden associated with digital and AI-mediated interaction.
HRL domain: Attention & Cognitive Load
Registry reference: HCI-COGNITIVE_LOAD-01
behavioural_alignment Anchor coherence Stable
Definition: Degree of alignment between personal values and enacted behaviour.
HRL domain: Values & Meaning
Registry reference: HCI-BEHAVIOURAL_ALIGNMENT-01
meaning_coherence Anchor coherence Stable
Definition: Clarity of life direction, purpose integration, existential coherence, and perceived continuity of meaning over time.
HRL domain: Values & Meaning
Registry reference: HCI-MEANING_COHERENCE-01
identity_stability Anchor coherence Stable
Definition: Continuity and stability of self-concept in AI-mediated environments.
HRL domain: Values & Meaning
Registry reference: HCI-IDENTITY_STABILITY-01