Project description
Legitimation heuristic models for algorithmic governance
Algorithmic systems are increasingly used in public governance, but they are often seen as less legitimate than human decision-making. Introducing humans into the loop can increase the perceived legitimacy of algorithmic governance, although a theory explaining how individuals evaluate algorithmic systems used by state authorities is still required. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) uses algorithmic governance and big data to implement migration policy. The ERC-funded AGAPP project will study the political legitimacy of a new ETIAS system using a novel legitimation heuristic model. It will collect empirical data via mixed-method research design, including human-computer interaction methods and experiments. AGAPP will break new ground by extending heuristic assessment models to legitimacy research, impacting cognition of legitimacy in broader governance contexts.
Objective
In our digitalising world, algorithmic systems are widely used in public governance. However, evidence suggests that algorithmic governance is perceived as less legitimate compared to governance that involves humans. Despite well-known deficiencies and biases in human decision-making, perceived legitimacy of algorithmic governance increases when humans are present in some capacity (so-called humans-in-the-loop). I argue that in order to explain the legitimizing effect of humans-in-the-loop we need a theory of how legitimacy judgments are created and changed in the minds of individuals when they encounter algorithmic systems of rule. To this end, AGAPP infuses the study of political legitimacy with a theory of ecological rationality stemming from cognitive science.
I propose a novel Legitimation Heuristic Model to explore the cognitive dynamics of legitimacy judgments as context-bound evaluations. The empirical investigation focuses on a new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). ETIAS is a paradigmatic case of algorithmic governance as it relies on big data and algorithms to perform risk profiling and implement migration policy. This project collects empirical data on how individuals assess the legitimacy of ETIAS by means of rigorous mixed-method research design. It integrates methods from Human-Computer-Interaction research (think-aloud protocols of participants’ interaction with a mock-up ETIAS interface) and includes visual elicitation into focus groups and survey experiments to ensure effective treatment.
AGAPP breaks new ground as it extends the use of heuristic assessment models to legitimacy research. While AGAPP focuses on applications of Legitimation Heuristics Model to algorithmic governance, if the model turns out to be an accurate portrayal of legitimacy judgment process, it has wider implications for other governance contexts and for the study of cognition of legitimacy more broadly.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsHost institution
00014 Helsingin Yliopisto
Finland