University of Twente Student Theses
Between promise and practice : A case study on the perceived transparency of the algorithm register
Haaren, T.M.R. van (2025) Between promise and practice : A case study on the perceived transparency of the algorithm register.
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| Abstract: | This study explores how residents of Enschede perceive the algorithm register as a tool to improve transparency around the use of algorithms by local government. Although the register was introduced as a national transparency initiative, its effectiveness remains unclear. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines survey data from 780 respondents with follow-up interviews to provide deeper context. The findings show that awareness of the register is low—only 12.1% of respondents were familiar with it—and varies significantly by education and age. While respondents generally support transparency efforts, they emphasize that real transparency requires more than access to information. Specifically, they want understandable explanations of how decisions are made, what data is used, and which factors influence outcomes. The current register falls short in this regard: it provides limited accessible information and lacks explainability altogether. These shortcomings highlight a broader disconnect between the policy's intention and its practical effect. Without adjustments to improve usability and comprehension—especially for groups with lower awareness—such transparency initiatives risk being symbolic rather than genuinely informative. The study concludes that algorithmic transparency must be both accessible and explainable to meet diverse public needs and avoid becoming merely performative. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 88 social and public administration |
| Programme: | Public Administration MSc (60020) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106297 |
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