Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0003-2344-7377
Document Type
Conference Paper
Disciplines
Computer Sciences, Information Science, *human – machine relations
Abstract
This paper presents the iterative development of Habit Coach, a GPT-based chatbot designed to support users in habit change through personalized interaction. Employing a user-centered design approach, we developed the chatbot using a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system, which enables behavior personalization without retraining the underlying language model (GPT-4). The system leverages document retrieval and specialized prompts to tailor interactions, drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and narrative therapy techniques. A key challenge in the development process was the difficulty of translating declarative knowledge into effective interaction behaviors. In the initial phase, the chatbot was provided with declarative knowledge about CBT via reference textbooks and high-level conversational goals. However, this approach resulted in imprecise and inefficient behavior, as the GPT model struggled to convert static information into dynamic and contextually appropriate interactions. This highlighted the limitations of relying solely on declarative knowledge to guide chatbot behavior, particularly in nuanced, therapeutic conversations. Over four iterations, we addressed this issue by gradually transitioning towards procedural knowledge, refining the chatbot's interaction strategies and improving its overall effectiveness. In the final evaluation, 5 participants engaged with the chatbot over five consecutive days, receiving individualized CBT interventions. The Self- Report Habit Index (SRHI) was used to measure habit strength before and after the intervention, revealing a reduction in habit strength post-intervention. These results underscore the importance of procedural knowledge in driving effective, personalized behavior change support in RAG-based systems.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2411.19229
Recommended Citation
Fooroogh Mand Arabi, Arian; Koyuturk, Cansu; O'Mahony, Michael; Calati, Raffaella; and Ognibene, Dimitri, "Habit Coach: Customising RAG-based chatbots to support behavior change" (2024). Conference papers. 439.
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/scschcomcon/439
Funder
Science Foundation Ireland
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Included in
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Commons, Cognitive Science Commons, Counseling Commons, Graphics and Human Computer Interfaces Commons
Publication Details
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3903/. https://aixhmi.unimib.it/home-page
.https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2411.19229