{"id":27,"date":"2026-10-30T17:20:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T17:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/macblog.mcmaster.ca\/ai-image-description-research\/?page_id=27"},"modified":"2026-10-30T21:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T21:10:12","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/macblog.mcmaster.ca\/ai-image-description-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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About the Research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The idea for this research project emerged in the fall of 2023, when a student with vision loss enrolled in a course containing a significant number of educational images. The instructor was unsure how best to provide meaningful image descriptions, so the department asked a member of our research team for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We explored using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create alternative text (alt-text) for these images. However, this raised an important question: Did the AI-generated descriptions provide the information students needed to understand the images in an educational context?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This experience became the foundation for our research into the potential benefits and limitations of AI-generated alt-text in Humanities and Social Sciences education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Research Purpose and Objectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This study explores the challenges and benefits that blind and low-vision students in higher education experience when using educational images and their associated alternative text (alt-text) in the Humanities and Social Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Objectives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Identify challenges and benefits:<\/strong> Examine the challenges and benefits of AI-generated alt-text for blind and low-vision students studying in the Humanities and Social Sciences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Improve AI-generated alt-text:<\/strong> Explore ways to address the limitations of AI-generated alt-text and improve its accuracy, relevance, and usefulness for educational purposes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Develop educational resources:<\/strong> Create practical guides for students, faculty, and staff on using generative AI to produce meaningful and accessible alt-text for educational images in the Humanities and Social Sciences.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Who Can Participate?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    We are seeking undergraduate and graduate students who are blind or have low vision and use a screen reader to access or understand their course materials. Participants must be enrolled at an Ontario post-secondary institution and either be majoring in the Humanities or Social Sciences or taking courses in these disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    What Does Participation Involve?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Participation in this study involves a 90-minute online group interview conducted through Zoom, where participants will discuss what makes alternative text (alt-text) effective or ineffective. Participants will also complete a short online survey through Microsoft Forms that takes less than 30 minutes to evaluate sample image descriptions. As a thank-you for their time, participants will receive $50 in gift cards to a retailer of their choice, distributed in two installments: $25 after the group interview and $25 after completing the survey.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Interested in Participating?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Please complete the participant eligibility and pre-screening questionnaire through Microsoft Teams<\/a>. We will follow up with next steps for those selected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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