The Use of Voice Assistant for Psychological Assessment Elicits Empathy and Engagement While Maintaining Good Psychometric Properties

This study aimed to use the Alexa vocal assistant as an administerer of psychometric tests, assessing efficiency and validity this measurement. A total 300 participants were administered Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). After a week, administration was repeated, but randomly divided into groups 100 each. In first, test by means paper version; in second, questionnaire read person, operator contemporaneously recorded answers declared participants; third group, directly voice device, after specific reprogramming. The group also administered, post-session survey, Engagement Perceptions Bot Scale (EPVS), short version Communication Styles Inventory (CSI), Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability (MCSDS), additional six items measure degrees concentration, ease, perceived pressure at beginning end administration. results confirmed that IRI did keep measurement invariance within three conditions. through showed empathic activation effect significantly superior conditions pencil–paper operator-in-presence. indicated engagement positive evaluation interactive experience, with reported perceptions closeness, warmth, competence, human-likeness associated higher values empathetic lower personal discomfort.