‘SORT BY RELEVANCE’ – WHOSE RELEVANCE? A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF ALGORITHM-MEDIATED ACADEMIC LITERATURE SEARCHES

The academic literature has arguably never been more accessible. Through the internet, academics - and wider public are presented with an increasing array of platforms which offer sources information sources. Large-scale – such as Google Scholar often utilise algorithms in order to manage how search query results prioritised searchers. This ‘sorting by relevance’ introduces opaque layer readers engage literature, potentially important implications for rigour equity. Academic publishing citation practices serve preserve privilege; turn, there is a risk that draw upon data these will compound biases. There need interrogate work, academics’ assumptions about mechanisms behind them. paper starts critical discussion issue algorithm-mediated searches. First, it draws existing primarily related Scholar. followed mapping use across sample major databases. Algorithms found be used extensively, although they operate varies not clear. concludes next steps this project.