Cheryl Lau

Over the course of four months, I had the chance to work on the IMPACT research project under the guidance of Dr Livermore and her team at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. The wider research project focuses on providing support to families where a child or young person has a paediatric rheumatology condition through a specialised chatbot. This opportunity allowed me to apply the knowledge I gained as a MSc student at University College London (UCL) to a real-world intervention addressing a meaningful cause. I was drawn to this project due to my strong interest in UX research (over design) and my academic background in psychology.

My research centred on exploring user acceptance and the opportunity of implementing such intervention from the perspectives of caregivers, children and young people. I chose this focus as the chatbot was still in the design stage, and understanding user perspectives is critical for successful adoption. Mainly drawing on Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour, I recognized that user acceptance hinges on perceived usefulness—a principle deeply embedded in UX research. Working with the IMPACT team provided me with the unique opportunity to collaborate closely with families who had received treatment at the hospital. By the end of the project, I was proud to have produced a meaningful piece of research with real-world implications.

Working with Dr Livermore and Klaudia was amazing. Our fortnightly meetings were instrumental in helping me stay on track with my goals and tasks. They were responsive, approachable, and encouraging. Their responsiveness, approachability, and encouragement were invaluable as I navigated the most rigorous research project I had undertaken to date. Their support was especially crucial when I decided to submit my findings for publication in a journal — a milestone I hadn’t initially anticipated!

One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was participating in an in-person family workshop day, where I had the opportunity to discuss my research with families and the wider team. Co-designing with families highlighted the tangible impact of my work on their daily management of chronic health conditions. It also taught me how to communicate complex ideas effectively to diverse audiences—not everyone is as familiar with generative AI as one might assume! Additionally, networking with the broader team boosted my confidence and reinforced my passion for the project.

The MSc HCI dissertation project allowed me to develop my UX research and analytical skills, while improving my ability to work independently with the right balance of support. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working on this project and look forward to seeing how the project develops! I highly recommend working on this project to any Human Computer Interaction (HCI) students. 😊

And I passed my dissertation with a distinction and now have secured employment as a Data and AI Consultant!

February 2025