Jane Walters
My MSc HCI Dissertation Research Experience: How the IMPACT team supported my journey to becoming an independent researcher
To complete an MSc in Human-Computer Interaction at UCL, students are asked to work closely with an academic to write a dissertation that aligns with both parties’ interests. For my dissertation, I was immediately drawn to the IMPACT project, both because I previously worked in public health and because I have a strong desire to use my knowledge and skills to positively impact others. Coming from a psychology background, pediatric rheumatology was completely new to me, yet I was drawn in by how naturally it combined areas I already had experience in: evaluating efficacy, understanding the factors that influence engagement with psychological services, and incorporating a diversity of perspectives. I was also immediately fascinated by the mechanics of a chatbot itself, a subject I found particularly interesting given the concurrent rise and integration of generative AI.
My research involved evaluating the efficacy of the RheumBot, the IMPACT project’s novel chatbot intended to provide support for parents of children with rheumatology. The core of this work involved speaking one-on-one with many of the parents who had the opportunity to trial the chatbot, an experience I found incredibly meaningful. Their extreme willingness to help and the time they gave—even when it was clear they had none to spare—revealed the true impact of this project. I am grateful to Polly and Klaudia for sharing their research with me, and to all the participants for their time and trust.
One of my favourite parts of working on the IMPACT project was the collaborative and authentic environment. Knowing how hard it can be for people to advocate for themselves, the ferocity and fearlessness with which these parents advocated for their children was something that really stuck with me. Everyone in the project brought a passion that was genuinely inspiring and reflected in their dedication and hard work. Additionally, Polly and Klaudia supported me to make discoveries on my own terms, including developing my own mechanisms to clean and process data and exploring new tools like sentiment analysis, whilst maintaining methodological rigor. More than anything, I am grateful to have produced a paper that I am incredibly proud of.
I graduated from UCL with distinction and have since moved into inequalities research. I have been able to carry forward much of what I learned about AI during my time with the IMPACT study, particularly in my work around digital inequalities. I will certainly continue to follow the IMPACT study’s work and (hopefully many) successes to come.
May 2026
Cheryl Lau
My MSc HCI Dissertation Research Experience: What I achieved and learnt from working with the IMPACT Team
Over the course of four months, I had the chance to work on the IMPACT research project under the guidance of Dr Livermore and her team at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. The wider research project focuses on providing support to families where a child or young person has a paediatric rheumatology condition through a specialised chatbot. This opportunity allowed me to apply the knowledge I gained as a MSc student at University College London (UCL) to a real-world intervention addressing a meaningful cause. I was drawn to this project due to my strong interest in UX research (over design) and my academic background in psychology.
My research centred on exploring user acceptance and the opportunity of implementing such intervention from the perspectives of caregivers, children and young people. I chose this focus as the chatbot was still in the design stage, and understanding user perspectives is critical for successful adoption. Mainly drawing on Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour, I recognized that user acceptance hinges on perceived usefulness—a principle deeply embedded in UX research. Working with the IMPACT team provided me with the unique opportunity to collaborate closely with families who had received treatment at the hospital. By the end of the project, I was proud to have produced a meaningful piece of research with real-world implications.
Working with Dr Livermore and Klaudia was amazing. Our fortnightly meetings were instrumental in helping me stay on track with my goals and tasks. They were responsive, approachable, and encouraging. Their responsiveness, approachability, and encouragement were invaluable as I navigated the most rigorous research project I had undertaken to date. Their support was especially crucial when I decided to submit my findings for publication in a journal — a milestone I hadn’t initially anticipated!
One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was participating in an in-person family workshop day, where I had the opportunity to discuss my research with families and the wider team. Co-designing with families highlighted the tangible impact of my work on their daily management of chronic health conditions. It also taught me how to communicate complex ideas effectively to diverse audiences—not everyone is as familiar with generative AI as one might assume! Additionally, networking with the broader team boosted my confidence and reinforced my passion for the project.
The MSc HCI dissertation project allowed me to develop my UX research and analytical skills, while improving my ability to work independently with the right balance of support. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working on this project and look forward to seeing how the project develops! I highly recommend working on this project to any Human Computer Interaction (HCI) students. 😊
And I passed my dissertation with a distinction and now have secured employment as a Data and AI Consultant!
February 2025