From the School of Humanities and Communication Sciences, a pioneering
four-year project titled 'Knowledge,
attitudes and opinions of the Spanish population on internet algorithms and the
design of Critical Algorithm Literacies (AlgorLit)'
has been launched. This project, funded by the State Plan for R&D&I and
led by researchers Tamara Vázquez Barrio
and María Sánchez Valle, aims to study the knowledge, attitudes and
opinions of Spanish citizens towards algorithms, highlighting consensuses
and differences based on age, gender, educational level, and place of
residence. As a result of the project, citizens will learn how algorithms work
and be able to increase their engagement so that, through user-algorithm interactions, they can make informed decisions, be
protected from undue influences, and contribute
to more ethical and free algorithmic decision-making and creation.
The methodology is based on the application of innovative techniques
including computational analysis of online conversation, physiological
measurements obtained through neurotechnology
experiments and concept mapping.
This research aims to provide accurate data on user experiences, perceptions
and interactions with platforms based on these algorithmic processes, so that,
once strengths and weaknesses have been identified, algorithmic literacy programs
will be proposed and tested to help society overcome the distortions, biases
and lack of diversity in content recommendations.
Following a detailed review of existing literature, to be updated in
relation to research of interest arising in the development of the project, the
following steps involve the design and implementation of the selected
methodologies. At this stage, focus groups are being planned in a number of
Spanish provinces and a representative survey of the national population is
scheduled to be conducted by July. This will be followed by neuroscience
experiments in the purpose-built NeuroLabCom
Laboratory of the School of Humanities and Communication Sciences,
computational techniques to collect social tracking data as well as an
interdisciplinary panel of experts and professionals to assess the conclusions
drawn.
The principal researchers are lecturers Tamara Vázquez Barrio and María
Sánchez Valle who will lead the research team made up of faculty members
from Universidad CEU San Pablo (Leopoldo
Abad Alcalá, Ignacio Blanco Alfonso, Esther Cervera Barriga, Laura González
Díez, Mariché Navío Navarro, Luis Nuñez Ladeveze, Marilé Pretel Jiménez and María Solano Altaba) and Loyola
University (Teresa Torrecillas Lacave
and Marta Pérez Escolar).
Developments, findings and reports on the publication of scientific
articles, the opening of workshops or participation in conferences and seminars
can be viewed on the project's website and on its social networks.