Speaker: Jeff Hancock, Communication & Information Science, Cornell University

Date: Wednesday, April 7, 2004 4:15-5:15p

Location: Cornell Information Science, 301 College Avenue, Seminar Room

Abstract -

An important set of questions has recently emerged regarding the impact of
modern communication technology, such as mobile phones, email, and instant
messaging, on deception and its detection. The first question is whether we
lie differently in different communication media. For example, do we lie more
or less when we are talking on the phone, in instant messaging, or via email,
than we do when we are interacting face-to-face? Do we tell different types
of lies to different types of people in different media? The second question
concerns deception detection across various media, by both humans and by
automated
detection techniques. In particular, are we any worse at detecting lies in
text-based exchanges than we are face-to-face? And, can we use automated
analyses to create linguistic profiles of deceptive and truthful
conversations? In this talk I will discuss the research we have conducted
thus far to address these questions, and I will seek input from the
information science community for my preparation of an NSF grant proposal.

Bio -

Jeff Hancock is an Assistant Professor in the Communication Department and in
the Faculty of Information Science. His primary interests are in
computer-mediated communication and human-computer-interaction, with a focus
on language use.

For more information please contact Phoebe Sengers at sengers@cs.Cornell.edu