Participant Information Sheet

Project Title: Intelligent Social Cataloguing for Emotion-Aware Book Recommendation

Researcher: Salma M, PhD Researcher, Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield

Supervisor: Dr Diana M

What is this study about?

This study is part of a PhD research project at the University of Sheffield. The objective of the research is to explore the possibilities offered by intelligent digital cataloguing systems to improve the efficacy of book recommendations through the use of patterns of interaction and emotional reading preferences. You are being invited to take part because you are an adult (18 or older) with an interest in books and digital reading platforms. Please take time to read the following information carefully.

What is the purpose of the research?

The research project aims to create and evaluate a research prototype platform called BK Bliss, which enables users to manage their books and recommendations using an experimental recommendation system. The research focuses on:

• Exploring patterns of book organisation and categorisation in digital environments.
• Exploring the possibilities offered by the use of patterns of interaction to support recommendations.
• Exploring the possibilities offered by the use of emotion-aware recommendation strategies to improve the user experience.

Do I have to take part?

No. Participation is completely voluntary. It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do decide to take part, you will be asked to provide informed consent before accessing the platform.

What will happen if I take part?

You will voluntarily register on the BK Bliss platform and interact with it in a natural way. Your tasks will involve browsing books, rating them (on a 1–5 scale), organising them into personal shelves, and viewing recommendations generated by the system. You may also optionally provide short written feedback about your experience. Additionally, the platform includes an optional conversational chatbot interface through which you may request book recommendations or discuss reading preferences using short text messages. Participation takes place entirely online, and you may stop using the platform at any time.

What data will be collected about me?

During your interactions, the system will collect limited research data, including:

• Your self-chosen username.
• Book ratings (1–5 scale) and shelving activities.
• Interaction logs such as searches or recommendation views.
• Optional short written feedback and chatbot messages (if you choose to use these features).

No sensitive personal information or special category data is collected.

How will my data be protected and used?

Your data will be handled securely and in compliance with the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and the University of Sheffield's data protection policies.

• Anonymisation: Usernames will be anonymised and replaced with internal identifiers before analysis. No directly identifiable personal data will be included in the research dataset.
• Access: Access to personal data will be strictly limited to the primary researcher and the supervisory team within the Department of Computer Science at the University of Sheffield.
• Storage: All data will be securely stored on University-approved servers and databases.

What are the possible disadvantages of taking part?

The research is considered low risk. The primary potential inconvenience is the time required to use the platform. There are no anticipated risks to your physical safety or well-being.

What happens when the research study is over?

• Identifiable Data: Your identifiable personal data will be deleted or anonymised within 14 days after participation, following the withdrawal period.
• Consent Forms: Signed consent forms will be kept for a maximum of six months following the end of the project for auditing purposes, after which they will be safely destroyed.
• Research Data: Anonymised data from the research study will be kept for research purposes and will be securely stored for up to six months after the completion of the PhD. After this period, it will be permanently deleted.

Findings will be reported in aggregated form in academic publications. None of the participants will be identifiable in these publications.

What if I change my mind or want to withdraw?

Participation is entirely voluntary, and you may stop using the platform at any time without penalty. You have a withdrawal period of up to 14 days after your participation, during which you may request that your data be removed from the study where it is still identifiable. After this 14-day period, the data will be anonymised and included in the research dataset, meaning that individual data may no longer be identifiable or removable.

Who should I contact if I have a concern or wish to complain?

If you have any concerns or wish to complain about how you have been treated, you can initially contact the supervisor of the study:

Dr Diana Maynard
Email: d.maynard@sheffield.ac.uk

If you would rather not contact the research team, or if you are dissatisfied with their response, you can contact the Head of the School of Computer Science:

Professor Heidi Christensen
Email: heidi.christensen@sheffield.ac.uk

Thank you

Thank you for reading this information. Please take time to consider whether you wish to participate. If you agree to take part, please proceed to the registration and provide your electronic consent.