Can Video-based Qualitative Analysis Help Us Understand User-algorithm Interaction?

Abstract

There is growing debate in contemporary life over the roles played by algorithms when we browse online. In particular, concerns are raised that algorithmic processes to index, filter and personalise content can ‘manipulate’ user behaviours in ways that lead to detrimental outcomes both online and offline. This short paper reports on ongoing work to examine how users interact with algorithms when undertaking browsing tasks online. Drawing on insights from ethnomethodology and conversation analysis, this video-based approach produces rich and detailed observations of user behaviour and reveals several relevant patterns of interest. Our findings highlight that both user-algorithm interaction and users’ own practical reasoning play key roles in shaping the browsing experience.

Affiliations

University of Oxford

Department of Computer Science

Wolfson Building, Parks Road

Oxford, UK OX1 3QD.

Contributors

Helena Webb

Menisha Patel

Conference

Publication date: July 2018

Publication date (Print): July 2018

Pages: 1-5

ID: 10.14236/ewic/HCI2018.141

Copyright statement: © Webb et al. Published by BCS Learning and Development Ltd. Proceedings of British HCI 2018. Belfast, UK.

License:

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Conference name: Proceedings of the 32nd International BCS Human Computer Interaction Conference

Conference acronym: HCI

Conference number: 32

Conference location: Belfast, UK

Conference date: 4 - 6 July 2018

Conference sponsor: Electronic Workshops in Computing (eWiC)

Conference theme: Human Computer Interaction Conference

Product

Product Information: 1477-9358 BCS Learning & Development

Self URI (article page): https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14236/ewic/HCI2018.141

Self URI (journal page): https://ewic.bcs.org/

Categories

Series title: Electronic Workshops in Computing