Conceptualising Reflective Use: Toward A Process Perspective On Human-AI Interaction
2026-06-08 • Human-Computer Interaction
Human-Computer Interaction
AI summaryⓘ
The authors study how people interact with generative AI systems, which can give different answers each time. They introduce the idea of 'reflective use,' a skill that helps users think carefully before, during, and after using AI, improving how they handle the AI's unpredictability. Their work identifies four main parts of this skill and connects it to motivation theories. This understanding can help people make better decisions when working with AI.
generative artificial intelligencereflective useself-determination theorynon-deterministic systemshuman-AI interactiondecision qualitybehavioural-knowledge capabilityiterative capability cycle
Authors
Thimo Schulz, Christina Speck
Abstract
The rapid diffusion of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) systems reshapes how individuals engage with information systems, requiring users to monitor, assess, and adapt their interaction with non-deterministic systems. Existing constructs capture elements of this engagement but do not account for the situated dynamics of the entire evaluative process in genAI use. This research-in-progress, situated in a larger endeavour towards a scale development, derives an initial conceptualisation of reflective use: a behavioural-knowledge capability that unfolds across pre-use, in-use, and post-use phases, reinforced through situated reflective knowledge gained in practice. Drawing on expert interviews and a focus group, we identify four core components of reflective use and show how they form an iterative capability cycle anchored within the motivational needs outlined in self-determination theory. Understanding reflective use is essential to ensure appropriate reliance and high decision quality, and thus provides a foundation for promoting responsible and effective human-AI interaction.