---
_id: '66086'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: 'This study investigates whether explainable AI (XAI), although intended to
    improve calibrated reliance in augmented decision-making (ADM), may also increase
    negative consultations. In a between-subjects online experiment (n = 200), participants
    completed a price classification task supported by AI, while we manipulated the
    presence of local feature-based explanations. Drawing on dual-process theory as
    an interpretive lens, we conceptualize explainability as a cognitively ambivalent
    intervention that reshapes reliance behavior. Our results show that XAI-induced
    transparency exerts competing effects: while it directly reduces negative consultations,
    it simultaneously increases competence-based trust and shifts responsibility attribution
    toward the AI. These mechanisms foster overreliance and significantly increase
    negative consultations, resulting in a competitive mediation pattern. Notably,
    comparable effects do not emerge for positive consultations, suggesting that transparency
    more readily amplifies reliance than it promotes corrective belief updating. By
    empirically demonstrating this paradox, our study develops IS and Decision Sciences
    research on automation bias in transparent ADM settings and identifies key psychological
    mechanisms through which explainability influences reliance. These findings inform
    the design of XAI systems that prioritize calibrated reliance rather than merely
    increasing perceived transparency.'
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Tizian
  full_name: Matschak, Tizian
  id: '100285'
  last_name: Matschak
- first_name: Nastjuk
  full_name: Ilja, Nastjuk
  last_name: Ilja
- first_name: Simon Thanh-Nam
  full_name: Trang, Simon Thanh-Nam
  id: '98948'
  last_name: Trang
  orcid: 0000-0002-4784-4038
- first_name: Jose
  full_name: Benitez, Jose
  last_name: Benitez
citation:
  ama: 'Matschak T, Ilja N, Trang ST-N, Benitez J. Unveiling the Hidden Layer: Ambivalent
    Cognitive Effects of XAI in Augmented Decision-Making under Uncertainty. <i>Decision
    Support Systems</i>. 2026;209:114721. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721">10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721</a>'
  apa: 'Matschak, T., Ilja, N., Trang, S. T.-N., &#38; Benitez, J. (2026). Unveiling
    the Hidden Layer: Ambivalent Cognitive Effects of XAI in Augmented Decision-Making
    under Uncertainty. <i>Decision Support Systems</i>, <i>209</i>, 114721. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721</a>'
  bibtex: '@article{Matschak_Ilja_Trang_Benitez_2026, title={Unveiling the Hidden
    Layer: Ambivalent Cognitive Effects of XAI in Augmented Decision-Making under
    Uncertainty}, volume={209}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721">10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721</a>},
    journal={Decision Support Systems}, author={Matschak, Tizian and Ilja, Nastjuk
    and Trang, Simon Thanh-Nam and Benitez, Jose}, year={2026}, pages={114721} }'
  chicago: 'Matschak, Tizian, Nastjuk Ilja, Simon Thanh-Nam Trang, and Jose Benitez.
    “Unveiling the Hidden Layer: Ambivalent Cognitive Effects of XAI in Augmented
    Decision-Making under Uncertainty.” <i>Decision Support Systems</i> 209 (2026):
    114721. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721</a>.'
  ieee: 'T. Matschak, N. Ilja, S. T.-N. Trang, and J. Benitez, “Unveiling the Hidden
    Layer: Ambivalent Cognitive Effects of XAI in Augmented Decision-Making under
    Uncertainty,” <i>Decision Support Systems</i>, vol. 209, p. 114721, 2026, doi:
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721">10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721</a>.'
  mla: 'Matschak, Tizian, et al. “Unveiling the Hidden Layer: Ambivalent Cognitive
    Effects of XAI in Augmented Decision-Making under Uncertainty.” <i>Decision Support
    Systems</i>, vol. 209, 2026, p. 114721, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721">10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721</a>.'
  short: T. Matschak, N. Ilja, S.T.-N. Trang, J. Benitez, Decision Support Systems
    209 (2026) 114721.
date_created: 2026-06-30T08:34:02Z
date_updated: 2026-07-03T18:33:13Z
department:
- _id: '792'
doi: 10.1016/j.dss.2026.114721
intvolume: '       209'
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
  url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167923626001107
oa: '1'
page: '114721'
publication: Decision Support Systems
status: public
title: 'Unveiling the Hidden Layer: Ambivalent Cognitive Effects of XAI in Augmented
  Decision-Making under Uncertainty'
type: journal_article
user_id: '98948'
volume: 209
year: '2026'
...