Claude Users Systematically Excluded from AI Psychology Research – A Methodological Gap

A recent literature review on AI chatbot psychology research has uncovered a systematic blind spot: Claude users are virtually absent from published studies. The author, a researcher and Claude user, examined dozens of empirical papers and found that every one samples from ChatGPT, Character.AI, or Replika populations. None meaningfully include Claude as a separate cohort.

Why This Matters

The gap isn't just about missing data — it's about fundamentally different interaction patterns. The source identifies three key issues:

• Use-case profile differences: ChatGPT research is dominated by short-form prompting and quick tasks. Character.AI focuses on roleplay. Claude users skew toward long-form writing, reasoning chains, research assistance, philosophy, and technical work. Treating all AI chatbot use as homogeneous is methodologically invalid.
• Model design shapes psychological experience: Claude's Constitutional AI training, refusal patterns, and explicit reasoning create a qualitatively different interaction than engagement-optimized models. Attachment, trust, frustration, and dependence likely develop differently — but no published data exists.
• Self-selection bias: Users who deliberately choose Claude after trying alternatives may differ on personality dimensions. Without sampling this group, researchers can't even ask the question.

What's Being Done

The author is conducting a Bachelor's thesis on personality traits and AI chatbot experiences, explicitly including Claude users. They have launched an anonymous survey (15 minutes, no names/emails/IPs) for users aged 18-30 who use Claude or any AI chatbot. The survey is hosted at https://forms.office.com/e/i685uTUQp0. Contact: ajdogs9214169_ [email protected].

If you fit the criteria, your participation could help fill this research gap and ensure Claude users are treated as a population worth studying.