Research
Koko started as a clinical trial at MIT. We have since published multiple papers in the fields clinical and social psychology, human-computer interaction, and machine learning. Some representative publications are summarized below.
Koko started as a clinical trial at MIT. We have since published multiple papers in the fields clinical and social psychology, human-computer interaction, and machine learning. Some representative publications are summarized below.
Just presenting resources is the first step. Additional work is required to overcome other structural or attitudinal barriers to reaching out. We have developed methods to increase conversion to crisis resources by systematically helping users overcome common barriers and misconceptions. In a randomized controlled trial with Harvard, we showed our methods increased conversion rates by 23%.
Koko has millions of posts and responses from its peer support network. We analyzed linguistic patterns that predicted favorable outcomes.
We created an artificially empathic chatbot using Koko data. We find that, while we can simulate empathic expression to a degree, there may be an upper bound machines can never cross. Unlike humans, they don't have lived experiences and so their efforts to empathize might always ring hollow.
Most looking to get help on Koko go on to help multiple other people. We make it simple and easy. We also find that helping others on Koko has a significant effect on mood regulation and depression symptoms.
We randomly assigned people to use Koko (then called 'Panoply') or a matched control task (expressive writing). We found improvements for both, but the differences were significantly greater for the Koko platform.
How might we increase the effectiveness of online crisis referrals? We compared our referral system with a standard link to 988/Lifelines and found significant reductions in hopelessness. People who received our referral were also more than twice as likely to report using the resources provided.
We developed methods to increase utilization of crisis resources such as The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In a randomized controlled trial with Harvard, we showed our methods increased conversion rates by 23%.
We embedded single-session interventions directly into online social networks, allowing us to reach users where they are. We found significant pre-post improvements in hopelessness, self-hatred, and motivation to stop self-harming. (In press, JMIR - Formative)
Most people looking to get help on Koko go on to help multiple other people. We make it simple and easy. We also find that helping others on Koko has a significant effect on mood regulation and depression symptoms.
We randomly assigned people to use Koko (then called 'Panoply') or a matched control task (expressive writing). We found improvements for both, but the differences were significantly greater for the Koko platform across all outcome measures.
We created an artificially empathic chatbot using Koko data. We find that, while we can simulate empathic expression to a degree, there may be an upper bound machines can never cross. Unlike humans, they don't have lived experiences and so their efforts to empathize might always ring hollow.
Koko has millions of posts and responses from its peer support network. We analyzed linguistic patterns that predicted favorable outcomes.
All of our services are free. We take user privacy very seriously and we never sell data. We rely on donations to make our impact.
