Is Algorithmic Accessibility Sufficient? The Pivotal Role of Accessibility and Accountability in Shaping Trust in Automated Decision-Making

The widely accepted view that algorithmic accessibility and accountability enhance the perceived trustworthiness of automated decision-making has not yet been fully validated. This study fills this research gap by conducting two survey experiments using “real-world” scenarios. We examine participants' trust preferences when exposed to varying levels of algorithmic accessibility and accountability, under different degrees of decision risks. Our findings highlight that algorithmic accountability exerts a stronger influence on the perceived trustworthiness of both algorithms and bureaucrats compared to algorithmic accessibility. Additionally, our research uncovers that the interaction between algorithmic accountability and contextual factors (e.g., high vs. low-risk scenarios) significantly affects trust in algorithm. This study offers novel empirical insights into the intricate dynamics among algorithmic accessibility, accountability, decision risk, and trust perceptions.