NoBias: prestudy for design of tools for normcritical text analysis

Important results from the project

The project´s overall objective was to increase knowledge of bias in texts and to explore the potential of a digital service for this. This objective is considered to be met as the developed digital prototype educates users in exclusive norms and proposes alternatives. In this, the digital service can contribute to increased norm-critical competence, diversified recruitments, and contribute to increased diversity and gender equality in society.

Expected long term effects

The ambition was to explore the possibilities of a digital service that can analyse bias in texts. The result uses a software-based algorithm that through text input of file formats such as.pdf, or via direct input through any digital interface suggests alternative words or phrases. In addition, we have grounded the hypotheses that the customer is a private company and that the business model is licenses possibly with a freemium alternative. This means that individuals can use the service free of charge, which contributes to increased knowledge of norms and exclusion in text.

Approach and implementation

The project approach has been design driven rather than solution focused. Literature studies, interviews, ideation and prototyping have provided a broad understanding of the knowledge area of inclusion, bias and norms in text. We have interviewed people with different expertise: researchers in design, gender and literature and AI, linguists, HR staff / recruiters, and managers at small to multinational large companies to explore needs and opportunities. In addition, we have done benchmarking and competition analysis of similar products and developed a first digital prototype.