Does Domain Change the Opinion of Individuals on Human Values? A Preliminary Investigation on eHealth Apps End-users

TL;DR

This study explores how domain context influences end-users' human value opinions in eHealth apps, revealing distinct value opinion types with generic and domain-specific instruments, highlighting the importance of domain-aware value elicitation.

Contribution

It provides initial insights into how domain context affects human value opinions, emphasizing the need for domain-specific instruments in values elicitation for eHealth applications.

Findings

Three generic value opinion types identified.

Two domain-specific value opinion types identified.

Domain context influences value elicitation results.

Abstract

The elicitation of end-users' human values - such as freedom, honesty, transparency, etc. - is important in the development of software systems. We carried out two preliminary Q-studies to understand (a) the general human value opinion types of eHealth applications (apps) end-users (b) the eHealth domain human value opinion types of eHealth apps end-users (c) whether there are differences between the general and eHealth domain opinion types. Our early results show three value opinion types using generic value instruments: (1) fun-loving, success-driven and independent end-user, (2) security-conscious, socially-concerned, and success-driven end-user, and (3) benevolent, success-driven, and conformist end-user Our results also show two value opinion types using domain-specific value instruments: (1) security-conscious, reputable, and honest end-user, and (2) success-driven, reputable and pain-avoiding end-user. Given these results, consideration should be given to domain context in the design and application of values elicitation instruments.