July 27-28

The capabilities of AI-assisted tools raise significant questions for qualitative research. This course provides a thorough understanding of the landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in qualitative research, covering the principles, practices, and ethics of using these technologies throughout the analytic workflow.

The course introduces a range of tools designed to facilitate qualitative research that harness AI in different ways. Participants will have the opportunity to experiment with a selection of tools, using sample data and their own research materials, if appropriate.

The emphasis of the course is to critically reflect on the potential role and appropriate use of AI-driven tools in qualitative research. This includes the recently emerging Generative-AI tools, and more traditional AI tools that have been available for longer. Ethical issues are central, along with how to document the use of AI transparently, and best practices for integrating AI with human interpretation in qualitative studies. We also discuss the future of qualitative research in the Generative-AI world, reflecting on the impact on methods of these technologies.

Participants will leave the course with a clear understanding of the implications of employing AI in qualitative studies and with practical experience of several tools. The qualitative AI space is evolving quickly, so the tools focused on during this course are subject to change, depending on what is available at the time of the course, but will include tools from across the qualitative-AI space. Participants will have free access to all the tools used for the purpose of the course, and will be provided access ahead of the first sessions. If it is not possible for you to access these tools on your computers, you’ll be able to watch a demonstration on-screen.