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Cited by 122Ethics and Social Impacts of AIInformation Systems Theories and ImplementationCybernetics and Technology in Society

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 1 of the 1 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Thinking critically about and researching algorithms

Kitchin, Rob·2019·The Social Power of Algorithms
DOI 10.4324/9781351200677-2
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Abstract

More and more aspects of our everyday lives are being mediated, augmented, produced and regulated by software-enabled technologies. Software is fundamentally composed of algorithms: sets of defined steps structured to process instructions/data to produce an output. This paper synthesises and extends emerging critical thinking about algorithms and considers how best to research them in practice. Four main arguments are developed. First, there is a pressing need to focus critical and empirical attention on algorithms and the work that they do given their increasing importance in shaping social and economic life. Second, algorithms can be conceived in a number of ways – technically, computationally, mathematically, politically, culturally, economically, contextually, materially, philosophically, ethically – but are best understood as being contingent, ontogenetic and performative in nature, and embedded in wider socio-technical assemblages. Third, there are three main challenges that hinder research about algorithms (gaining access to their formulation; they are heterogeneous and embedded in wider systems; their work unfolds contextually and contingently), which require practical and epistemological attention. Fourth, the constitution and work of algorithms can be empirically studied in a number of ways, each of which has strengths and weaknesses that need to be systematically evaluated. Six methodological approaches designed to produce insights into the nature and work of algor…

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Metadata

Authors
Kitchin, R.
Corresponding author
Kitchin, Rob
ORCID
Kitchin, Rob
Venue
The Social Power of Algorithms
Publisher
Routledge
Published
2019-10-23
Pages
14-29
DOI
10.4324/9781351200677-2
OpenAlex
W4232646084
Cited by
122
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 9
FWCI
55.71
Type
book chapter
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Routledge eBooks (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management Information Systems › Information Systems Theories and Implementation
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Cybernetics and Technology in Society
Keywords
algorithms, critical algorithm studies, computer software, sociotechnical assemblages, algorithmic mediation, algorithmic ethics, algorithmic culture

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