A constructive role for social science in the development of automated vehicles

Cohen, Tom; Stilgoe, Jack; Stares, Sally; Akyelken, Nihan; Cavoli, Clemence; Day, Jennie; Dickinson, Janet; Fors, Vaike; Hopkins, Debbie; Lyons, Glenn; Marres, Noortje; Newman, Jonathan; Reardon, Louise; Sipe, Neil; Tennant, Chris; Wadud, Zia; Wigley, Edward

Abstract

Automated vehicles (AVs) have the potential to cause profound shifts across a wide range of areas of human life, including economic structures, land use, lifestyles and personal well-being. Most current social science on AVs is narrowly framed. Research on public attitudes has focused on whether people are likely to accept and use AVs. We contend that failing to anticipate a wider range of profound social implications may have serious negative consequences, and that social scientists from a range of disciplinary perspectives can provide invaluable insights. Our conclusions are the product of a workshop in London held in 2018 to discuss the place of social science research in relation to the development of AVs. This paper summarises a core selection of our concerns, interests, theoretical and substantive points of reference and aspirations for a constructive role in this field of research and development.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 17, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jun 13, 2020
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jun 15, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 15, 2020
• Journal: Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
• Print ISSN: 2590-1982
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Article Number: 100133
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100133
• Keywords: Automated vehicles; Autonomous vehicles; Self-driving; Driverless; Social science; Research agenda
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/6023386
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: A constructive role for social science in the development of automated vehicles; Journal Title: Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100133; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.