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arXiv · 2007.06718

What If I Don't Like Any Of The Choices? The Limits of Preference Elicitation for Participatory Algorithm Design

Samantha Robertson·Niloufar Salehi
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Abstract

Emerging methods for participatory algorithm design have proposed collecting and aggregating individual stakeholder preferences to create algorithmic systems that account for those stakeholders' values. Using algorithmic student assignment as a case study, we argue that optimizing for individual preference satisfaction in the distribution of limited resources may actually inhibit progress towards social and distributive justice. Individual preferences can be a useful signal but should be expanded to support more expressive and inclusive forms of democratic participation.

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Samantha Robertson, Niloufar Salehi. 2020-07-13. What If I Don't Like Any Of The Choices? The Limits of Preference Elicitation for Participatory Algorithm Design. https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.06718

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