Emotions and Dynamic Assemblages: A Study of Automated Social Security Using Qualitative Longitudinal Research

In this paper we argue that qualitative longitudinal research (QLLR) is a crucial research method for studying automated decision-making (ADM) systems as complex, dynamic digital assemblages. QLLR provides invaluable insight into the lived experiences of users as data subjects of ADMs as well as into the broader digital assemblage in which these systems operate. To demonstrate the utility of this method, we draw on an ongoing, empirical study examining Universal Credit (UC), an automated social security payment used in the United Kingdom. UC is digital-by-default and uses a dynamic, means-testing payment system to determine the monthly amount of claim people are entitled to.