Open AI as assistants in interview analysis

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Abstract

The article discusses possibilities of using software (using QDA Miner Light as an example) and artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze in-depth interviews in sociological research. The authors consider a long-known, but not very widespread in the Russian-speaking segment, QDA Miner, as well as the new and increasingly popular Open AI, as tools that can complement traditional approaches to analyzing qualitative data. Various interview arrays are used to test the tools. The article shows how the use of these technologies improves efficiency of information processing, minimizes errors associated with manual coding, tests research hypotheses and obtains new conclusions. All this together allows not only to significantly speed up the analysis process, but also to improve quality of the conclusions obtained. The authors argue for a balanced approach combining traditional methods with innovative technologies to achieve a deeper understanding of research topics and enhance reliability of findings. By showcasing capabilities of both established software and emerging AI tools, this study contributes to advancing methodological practices in sociology and encourages researchers to adopt a more versatile toolkit for qualitative analysis.

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About the authors

Konstantin A. Galkin

Sociological Institute of FCTAS RAS

Author for correspondence.
Email: kgalkin1989@mail.ru

Cand. Sci. (Sociol.), Senior Researcher

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

Irina S. Petukhova

Sociological Institute of FCTAS RAS; Petrozavodsk State University

Email: irini-prz@yandex.ru

Cand. Sci. (Sociol.), Senior Researcher, docent

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg; Petrozavodsk

Oksana A. Parfenova

Sociological Institute of FCTAS RAS

Email: oparfenova2023@yandex.ru

Cand. Sci. (Sociol.), Senior Researcher

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

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2. Fig. 1. The frequency of keywords in the texts of interviews with working elderly people on the topic "using ICT", in %

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3. Fig. 2. The frequency of keywords in the texts of interviews with unemployed elderly people on the topic "using ICT", in %

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4. Fig. 3. Frequency of keywords in the texts of interviews with working elderly people on the topic "age perception/aging", in %

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5. Fig. 4. Frequency of keywords in the texts of interviews with unemployed elderly people on the topic "age perception/aging", in %

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6. Fig. 5. The tone of the texts of interviews of working elderly people on the topic "using ICT"

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7. Fig. 6. The tone of the texts of interviews of unemployed elderly people on the topic "using ICT"

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8. Fig. 7. The tone of the texts of interviews of working elderly people on the topic "perception of aging and age"

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9. 8. The tone of the texts of interviews of working elderly people on the topic "perception of aging and age"

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