AI in Qualitative Research

Tom and Lisa discuss my response to a call for chapters on "AI-free research", a new Routledge volume championing slow, handmade scholarship against the fast-food promises of AI-driven analysis.
The resistance is understandable—AI promises fast-food solutions to problems that demand slow, careful thought. But rejecting AI entirely isn't the answer.

Listen to the podcast to find out. I've added clarifications when Tom and Lisa miss the mark—a reminder of what happens when we leave AI unsupervised.
Based on: https://qeludra.com/blog/fast-food-vs-slow-science-traveling-at-the-speed-of-our-souls-with-ai

In this episode, Lisa and Tom take on a series of objections and concerns that Dr. Susanne Friese has heard repeatedly over the past month in conversations with researchers.
Can I trust a tool if I don’t know what it was trained on?
If there are no citations, is it plagiarism?
If a colleague arrives at a different result, we can talk it through. But with an AI assistant, I cannot do this.And if I have to check everything anyway, what’s the point?
These are just some of the questions Lisa and Tom explore in this wide-ranging conversation about the place of generative AI in qualitative research.
If you’ve ever felt hesitant, skeptical, or just plain curious about AI’s role in your research process—this episode is for you.

Useful links:
Informed Consent with AI
Template (German): Vertraulichkeitserklärung mit KI Nutzung
Template (English): Informed Consent when AI tools are used

Privacy and Security Fact Sheets for QInsights
Data Protection and Data Security at QInsights
QInsights: Privacy and Securitiy Fact Sheet
 
Geman
Datenschutzbezogene Angaben zur Nutzung von QInsights
QInsights: Steckbrief zum Datenschutz

In this episode, Lisa and Tom discuss the article: Conversational Analysis with AI - CA to the Power of AI: Rethinking Coding in Qualitative Analysis
written by Dr Susanne Friese, pre-print April 27, 2025.

If you are curious to try out QInsights, to see how you can put the method into action, you can register for a free account here

Is coding still essential in qualitative research—or can generative AI offer a smarter way forward? In this episode, Dr. Susanne Friese takes you on a journey through the history of coding, its role in managing complexity, and how today's AI tools might free us from mechanical tasks without sacrificing depth or rigor. Learn how dialogic analysis with AI transforms our interaction with data—and whether the dream of coding-free research is truly within reach.
Based on the blog and webinar: Life without Coding in Qualitative Analysis: Does Generative AI Fulfill This Dream?

Blog
Webinar Recording (YouTube)

Join us for a special live edition of the AI-in-Qualitative-Research podcast, where René van der Valk and I reflect on a transformative year in qualitative research and AI. Set against a cozy fireside backdrop with a Scottish twist with a touch of whiskey (watch to the end), we explore my learnings, and key takeaways from 2024. 🎙️❄️

Links:

Podcast Episode with Christin Silver

Our own AI-Powered App that was released in 2024