We are researchers at the Social Urban Network Lab at Northeastern University studying how Google Maps restaurant recommendations differ between personalized and non-personalized views across Boston neighborhoods. Your participation helps us understand how AI algorithms shape the way people discover restaurants in different urban landscapes.
What You Will Do
Sign in with your Google account (so we can compare personalized vs. non-personalized results).
Complete a brief demographic questionnaire (3 questions).
The extension will automatically search Google Maps for restaurants in 4 Boston neighborhoods and collect the results shown to you.
The same searches will be repeated in incognito mode for comparison.
Review and submit your data.
The entire process takes approximately 5-10 minutes.
What Data We Collect
An anonymous installation identifier generated locally by this extension. It is not derived from your Google account and contains no personal information.
Your responses to a brief demographic questionnaire (whether you live in Boston, age bracket, income bracket).
The list of restaurant recommendations shown by Google Maps in each neighborhood (name, rating, price level, URL).
Privacy & Anonymity
Your submitted data is anonymous with respect to your identity: we do not collect or store your Google account identifier, name, email address, or Google profile information. The session identifier in your record is generated locally by this extension and is not derived from your Google account. As is standard for any web request, our server briefly logs the originating IP address for abuse prevention; it is not linked to your study responses. All results are reported in aggregate only. Your participation is completely voluntary and you may withdraw at any time by closing this page.
Risks & Benefits
There are no known risks beyond those of normal web browsing. You will not receive direct compensation, but your participation contributes to research on AI fairness and urban accessibility.
By clicking I Agree below, you confirm that you have read and understood the information above and agree to participate in this study.
Participation is voluntary. To stop, simply close this page or the extension tab. Choosing not to participate will not result in any penalty or loss of benefits.
