UROP Project

The Pitted Floor: Comparative Analysis of Gig Workers Under Algorithmic Control

Labor, Precarity, Technology, Emotions, Inequality
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Research Mentor: Bennett S. LaBree, he/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Sociology, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: bsl25b@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
  • Day: Friday, September 4
    Start Time: 12:00
    End Time: 1:00
    Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/91354557817

Project Description

This project evaluates how different types of gig workers, rideshare (Uber, Lyft) and food delivery (DoorDash, UberEats, etc.), internalize their experiences and adapt their behavior to the technological algorithms which mediate their working relationship to clients. Their status and evaluation is instantaneous and done without human input, solely based on data collected through client rating and logistic/efficiency metrics. This project studies how socially mediated feedback, and its level of importance/intensity in different positions, changes the worker relationship and resistance practices. We will also include discussions of driver safety, gendered experiences, and racial inequities among respondents.

Research Tasks: - Learn how to conduct qualitative coding and interview transcript evaluation
- Small scale literature review
- Potential for conducting interview data collection if other tasks completed well
- Attend meetings every week or two (determined by size of current task)

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: - Basic understanding of Google Suite Applications (Google Sheets, Docs, etc)
- Ability to be detail-oriented and learn the setup of the study
- Ability to synthesize and analyze information
- Good communication about your own level of understanding and ability (you don't need to become an expert to help on this project!)

Mentoring Philosophy

I strive to create a safe environment in which mentees feel that it is acceptable to fail and learn from their mistakes. Mentee's should understand that they are not expected to be immediately proficient in the tasks or skills we are trying to build. I have pivoted and stumbled in my career many times, and there is always something you are 'behind at' (never true), wrong about, or not yet good at! I want to make mentee's feel comfortable to ask questions and let me know when something needs more clarification. Being a mentor is about building good communication and professionalization skills for the mentee as we figure out the specifics of whichever individual project. Research has many transferrable skills, and I am not unaware that most mentees will have no desire to continue work similar to my work. Therefore, mentees should expect valuable skill building, great communication, and effortful guidance from me as mentor. It is all about showing up and moving forward! Forward is hard, yet you are already doing it by signing up for this project.

Additional Information


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