Validation of the EDUSS Framework for Self-Actualization Based on Transparent User Models: A Qualitative Study

Self-actualization is the process of striving toward full potential and achieving higher goals in one's life. Originally studied in psychology, this concept has been adopted by various disciplines, including recommender systems, as a means of addressing issues like the filter bubble problem and promoting transparency. In an earlier work, we developed a theoretically-sound framework named EDUSS to systematically design interactive visualizations of transparent user models for self-actualization. We aim in this paper to validate the effectiveness of using the EDUSS framework to support self-actualization. To this end, we implemented interactive visualizations of transparent user interest models designed with the help of the EDUSS framework into the transparent Recommendation and Interest Modeling Application (RIMA). Further, we conducted a qualitative user study (N=10) to investigate the effect of these visualizations in supporting users to achieve self-actualization. Our study showed qualitative evidence validating that applying the EDUSS framework to design systems for self-actualization has the potential to help users reach self-actualization goals to a certain extent.