ABSTRACT

In light of the widespread use of big data analytics, internet users are increasingly confronted with algorithmic decision-making. Developing algorithm literacy is thus crucial to empower users to successfully navigate digital environments. In this paper, we present the development and validation of an algorithm literacy scale that consists of two interrelated dimensions: 1) awareness of algorithms use and 2) knowledge about algorithms. To validate the scale, we use item response theory and report findings from two studies. In study 1, we tested 46 items among N = 331 participants, resulting in a 32-item pool. These items were tested in a second study among N = 1,041 German internet users. The final scale consists of each 11 items measuring algorithm awareness and knowledge. Both subscales correlated positively with participants’ subjective coding skills and proved to be an appropriate predictor for participants’ handling of algorithmic curation in three test-scenarios.

摘要

鉴于大数据分析的广泛使用，互联网用户越来越多地面临算法决策。因此，培养算法素养对于使用户能够成功地驾驭数字环境至关重要。在本文中，我们介绍了算法素养量表的开发和验证，该量表由两个相互关联的维度组成：1）算法使用意识和 2）算法知识。为了验证量表，我们使用了项目反应理论并报告了两项研究的结果。在研究 1 中，我们测试了N = 331 名参与者中的 46 个项目，从而形成了一个 32 个项目的池。这些项目在N的第二项研究中进行了测试= 1,041 名德国互联网用户。最终量表由每 11 个项目组成，用于衡量算法意识和知识。两个分量表都与参与者的主观编码技能呈正相关，并被证明是参与者在三个测试场景中处理算法管理的适当预测指标。