Exploring the Effects of Embodied Agents’ Verbal and Nonverbal Dominance on Decision-Making: A Study Design

With the advancements in Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality, intelligent virtual agents are shifting from tool for information retrieval to influential social actors capable of shaping users’ cognition and decision-making processes. This research explores the role of dominance—a critical element of social interaction—by integrating verbal and non-verbal cues into agent design. We present a preliminary research framework, which includes both the experimental design and the development of the agent system. The anticipated findings will provide valuable insights into the dynamics of user interactions with virtual agents and their broader implications.