The Ethics of Using Artificial Intelligence in Qualitative Research

Area of Science:

• Educational research
• Qualitative methods
• Artificial Intelligence

Background:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and large language models are increasingly integrated into education and research.
• This integration raises significant ethical considerations, especially for qualitative research methodologies.
• Foundational philosophical and structural aspects of qualitative designs necessitate careful examination of AI's role.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the perceived ethics of using AI in qualitative research.
• To understand the attitudes of qualitative researchers towards AI adoption in their work.
• To identify factors influencing the acceptance of AI in educational research.

Main Methods:

• Survey data collected from 101 qualitative researchers between April and May 2023.
• Analysis of responses regarding the use and ethical perceptions of AI in research processes.
• Comparison of acceptance levels based on institutional research productivity (R1 universities vs. others).

Main Results:

• Researchers were most receptive to using AI for transcription tasks.
• A lesser degree of acceptance was found for AI in preliminary coding.
• Researchers affiliated with high research productivity (R1) universities demonstrated lower acceptance of AI in research compared to others.

Conclusions:

• Qualitative researchers exhibit a nuanced view on AI adoption, with practical applications like transcription being more readily accepted.
• Institutional productivity may correlate with differing attitudes towards AI in research.
• Further dialogue is needed to navigate the ethical integration of AI in qualitative educational research.