Title
The human touch: How non-expert users perceive, interpret, and fix topic models.
Abstract
Topic modeling is a common tool for understanding large bodies of text, but is typically provided as a “take it or leave it” proposition. Incorporating human knowledge in unsupervised learning is a promising approach to create high-quality topic models. Existing interactive systems and modeling algorithms support a wide range of refinement operations to express feedback. However, these systems’ interactions are primarily driven by algorithmic convenience, ignoring users who may lack expertise in topic modeling. To better understand how non-expert users understand, assess, and refine topics, we conducted two user studies—an in-person interview study and an online crowdsourced study. These studies demonstrate a disconnect between what non-expert users want and the complex, low-level operations that current interactive systems support. In particular, our findings include: (1) analysis of how non-expert users perceive topic models; (2) characterization of primary refinement operations expected by non-expert users and ordered by relative preference; (3) further evidence of the benefits of supporting users in directly refining a topic model; (4) design implications for future human-in-the-loop topic modeling interfaces.
Year
DOI
Venue
2017
10.1016/j.ijhcs.2017.03.007
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
Keywords
Field
DocType
Topic modeling,User study,Mixed-initiative interaction
Data science,Interview study,Proposition,Computer science,Human–computer interaction,Unsupervised learning,Human knowledge,Topic model
Journal
Volume
ISSN
Citations 
105
1071-5819
13
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.54
39
6
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Tak Yeon Lee1574.05
Alison Smith2693.40
Kevin D. Seppi333541.46
Niklas Elmqvist4206598.35
Jordan Boyd-Graber5142084.60
Leah Findlater61668101.05