Algorithm literacy of Polish students of selected faculties in social sciences and humanities

The widespread use and impact of algorithms on almost every aspect of the individual and the society is a significant challenge to the modern world. For effective and informed functioning in today’s societies we need algorithm literacy. The development of algorithm literacy must be present in the educational process not only in engineering schools, but also (if not primarily) in the cultural and social studies focused on contemporary cultural changes. Our research focused on the latter. The Algorithm Literacy Scale for Internet Users was used to measure and compare the algorithm literacy of Polish students from three faculties: Architecture of Information Spaces (University of Warsaw), Information in a Digital Environment, speciality: Information Management (University of Łódź), Sociology, speciality: Individual and Contemporary Culture (University of Łódź).The research had the following goals:• Preliminary assessment of algorithm literacy among Polish students of selected faculties.• Testing the Algorithm Literacy Scale for Internet Users in the Polish context and its critical analysis.• Verifying if students acquired any knowledge on algorithms during their studies.The study found that:• There are minor differences in algorithm literacy between faculties, and that some elements of algorithmic awareness and knowledge are widespread, observed in over 90% of respondents, whileothers – limited, observed in 30% or less of respondents.• Form of some items on Algorithm Literacy Scale for Internet Users might be unclear and rephrasing should be considered.• Only six percent of surveyed students indicated university classes as a source of algorithm awareness and knowledge.