Lecture 9 Flashcards
Algorithms and Data
What is an algorithm?
An encoded procedure for transforming input data into a desired output based on specified calculations.
How does Gillespie describe the role of algorithms in public discourse?
Algorithms are seen as “public relevance algorithms” that impact public discourse by producing knowledge logic that claims to identify relevant information free of human error or manipulation.
What is ‘algorithm-ready information’?
Data that has been formatted and structured for computation, often involving categorization and classification by algorithmic processes.
What are ‘Patterns of Inclusion’?
The ways in which data and databases define algorithmic function, including data collection, preparation for computation, and exclusion/demotion of information. It shapes what data is included or left out, impacting algorithmic operations and outputs.
What are ‘Cycles of Anticipation’?
These refer to algorithms predicting user behavior and preferences, often categorizing users into knowable types (“algorithmic identities”) to better serve personalized results and shape user experiences.
What is ‘The Evaluation of Relevance’?
Algorithms use sophisticated techniques to match user queries with resources, often embedding assumptions about user behavior and needs. This involves inherent biases and affects what content users see.
Explain ‘The Promise of Algorithmic Objectivity’.
The belief that algorithms can provide objective and impartial outcomes due to their automated nature. However, this “objectivity” is often a constructed narrative to legitimize algorithmic influence on public perception and discourse.
What does ‘Entanglement with Practice’ mean?
Algorithms are intertwined with everyday practices and contexts, shaping and being shaped by human activities, environments, and digital platforms. They are not just tools but active participants in social processes.
What is ‘The Production of Calculated Publics’?
Algorithms structure and define publics by channeling individuals into like-minded communities through personalization (e.g., filter bubbles), affecting how users perceive themselves and others within online spaces.
