Research
Ten papers: seven published, one accepted and two under review. I have also given more than 25 conference presentations and chaired the 2024 SPSP session on aversion to and appreciation of AI.
Results and figures, paper by paper
Each card opens a page with the methods, every table and a figure for each. Cards marked “try it” include a short interactive.
- No gap in following advice from a doctor or an AI try it
People trust a doctor more than an AI, but trust did not change what they did
Six studies for my dissertation on AI, humanization and health beliefs.
- d = −.47 vs −.15 men against women, phone effect on connectedness try it
A phone in view cost men more connection than women
Eight experiments pooled into one analysis, 1,778 people.
- d = −.81 creativity, AI drafter against AI editor
When the AI wrote the first draft, people felt less creative
Two experiments on how people work with generative AI.
- b = .020 perceived risk and large events try it
The more risk people felt, the more they went out
Eight weeks of outings during a pandemic semester.
- ηp² = .244 drug effect on how typical the meal felt
On the blocker, the virtual meal felt more typical and more satisfying
A virtual reality buffet in a pharmacology trial for alcohol use disorder.
- r = .19 hours with close people in person and positive affect
Time with close people in person went with feeling better
A week of time use and mood during COVID-19.
- 3 ideas displacement, interference and complementarity
Phones can help or hurt, depending on how they are used
A review that organizes the evidence into three ideas.
- β = .329 closeness to Pinkie Pie and humor
Fans saw themselves in the characters they identified with
Who fans said they were like, and how they saw themselves.
- N = 572 gamers across two samples
Competitive and noncompetitive gamers are motivated differently
A new scale of why people play.
- p = .269 overall test across three instructors
People obeyed a computer about as much as a person
My master’s thesis on obedience to digital authority.
No papers on this topic yet.
Full reference list
Published
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Leitao, M. R., Farokhnia, M., Leggio, L., & Persky, S. (2026). Experiences and behavior during a virtual reality buffet simulation: A secondary analysis of a ghrelin-related pharmacology randomized controlled trial in people with alcohol use disorder. Journal of Medical Extended Reality. doi.org/10.1177/29941520261484294
First author · Results and figures
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Berzenski, S. R., Shulze, J., Leitao, M. R., & Ruvalcaba, O. (2025). Motivations for gaming scale: A comparison of competitive and noncompetitive gamers. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, 3(1). doi.org/10.1123/jege.2024-0026
Contributing author · Results and figures
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Leitao, M. R., Proulx, J. D. E., & Kushlev, K. (2024). Smartphones undermine social connectedness more in men than women: A mini mega-analysis. Technology, Mind, and Behavior, 5(1). doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000125
First author · Results and figures
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Rarity, E., Leitao, M. R., & Rutchick, A. M. (2022). Identification with characters in parasocial relationships predicts sharing their personality traits. Psychology of Popular Media, 11(2), 111–116. doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000389
Contributing author · Results and figures
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Tibbetts, M., Epstein-Shuman, A., Leitao, M. R., & Kushlev, K. (2021). A week during COVID-19: Online social interactions are associated with greater connection and more stress. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 4, 100133. doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100133
Contributing author · Results and figures
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Del Cid, D. A., Larranaga, D., Leitao, M., Mosher, R. L., Berzenski, S. R., Gandhi, V., & Drew, S. A. (2021). Exploratory factor analysis and validity of the Virtual Reality Symptom Questionnaire and Computer Use Survey. Ergonomics, 64(1), 69–77. doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2020.1820083
Contributing author
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Kushlev, K., & Leitao, M. R. (2020). The effects of smartphones on well-being: Theoretical integration and research agenda. Current Opinion in Psychology, 36, 77–82. doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.05.001
Second author · Results and figures
Accepted
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Hertendorf, B. N., Leitao, M. R., Peterson, C., Stoeling, D., & Persky, S. Characterizing genetic determinism about body weight: Predictors and implications.
Contributing author
Under review
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Logg, J. M.†, Leitao, M. R.†, & Ulu, C. The cost of generative AI collaboration strategies to the psychological experience of work. SSRN working paper. † Co-first authors.
Co-first author · Results and figures
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Logg, J. M., Tinsley, C. H., & Leitao, M. R. Risk creep: A COVID-19 longitudinal field study.
Contributing author · Results and figures
Dissertation
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Leitao, M. R. (2024). Artificial intelligence, humanization, and health beliefs [Doctoral dissertation, Georgetown University].
Sole author · Results and figures
Master’s thesis
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Leitao, M. R. (2019). All hail our robot overlords: Obedience to digital authority. Master’s thesis, California State University, Northridge.
Sole author · Results and figures