Forschung
Research Areas
How do people build trust in artificial intelligence?
What makes human–AI collaboration truly effective?
And how can we shape the future of work in a way that is both innovative and humane?
At the Chair of Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of Freiburg, we explore the psychological and organizational dimensions of digital transformation. Our research focuses on how new technologies – especially AI – are changing the way people work, lead, and make decisions. We combine psychological theory, experimental research, and ethical reflection to better understand how intelligent systems can be used responsibly in everyday work.
Whether it’s AI in personnel selection, hybrid leadership, or human oversight in automation – our work always puts people at the center.
We work closely with partners from academia, industry, and policy to ensure that our research has real-world impact.
Research Topics
- Trust and transparency in AI-based systems
- Human–AI interaction in the workplace
- Explainability (XAI) and responsible AI design
- Human oversight and ethical accountability in automation
- Psychological impact of the EU AI Act
- AI-assisted recruitment and personnel development
- Motivation and resistance in technology adoption
- Interdisciplinary research bridging psychology, computer science, and ethics
Current Projects
Affiliation: Part of the DFG Collaborative Research Centre “Foundations of Perspicuous Software Systems”
Objective: To develop context-aware, actionable explanations for software systems, ensuring users can understand, interpret, and meaningfully act on system outputs.
Status: Ongoing within the SFB framework (2022–2025).
Funding: Supported by the Volkswagen Stiftung under their AI and Society of the Future initiative idw-online.de
Aim: An interdisciplinary consortium (computer science, law, philosophy, psychology) exploring how AI systems can provide transparent, understandable explanations tailored to different real-world contexts
Timeline: Since March 2019, with core funding through 2025 .
Core team: Prof. Holger Hermanns, Prof. Georg Borges, Prof. Ulla Wessels, Prof. Eva Schmidt, Prof. Cornelius König, Markus Langer, among others
Program: Part of the Ladenburger Kolleg “Technological Intelligence for Transformation, Automation and User‑Orientation of the Justice System”, funded by the Daimler and Benz Foundation (~€1.5 M) uni-saarland.de.
Goal: To investigate the role and trust in large language models and AI in legal settings, identifying where and how AI can reliably support legal decision-making while preserving rights and democratic principles uni-saarland.de.
Duration: Three-year project starting in 2025.
Team lead: Professor Anne Paschke (Uni Braunschweig) with interdisciplinary collaborators including legal scholars, computer scientists, and psychologists
Title: AngstVRei – Virtual‑Reality Application for Fear‑Free Learning in Schools
Funding: Supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Purpose: To develop a VR-based tool aimed at reducing anxiety among students in school environments.
Details: Focuses on technological intervention in educational psychology, enabling immersive environments that help learners build coping strategies.