Exploring the Frontier: Generative AI in Qualitative Data Analysis

Exploring the intersection of qualitative data analysis and generative artificial intelligence (AI), this presentation considers the current evolving landscape in qualitative software. Tracing the historical evolution of autocoding features in tools like NVivo and ATLAS.ti, the discussion expands to the these tools’ integration of OpenAI's GPT models. It considers novel applications beyond traditional sentiment and 'topic' identification for faster, hopefully robust, insights into qualitative data. Going beyond technical aspects, the session also addresses critical methodological considerations, examining the epistemological and theoretical challenges qualitative scholars face when considering removing the “close” from close reading in qualitative inference.