AI for Qualitative Research

This open access book will guide qualitative researchers in the social sciences with little to no coding experience in leveraging large language models (LLMs). Responding to a lack of instructional materials that recognize the need to equip qualitative researchers with the most advanced tools, this book offers a research-focused guide to harness the power of LLMs. The content is divided into two parts, beginning with an introduction to LLMs, natural language processing, and machine learning, as well as a historical and ethical perspective on the use of AI in research. The second part of the book serves as a hands-on guide, providing step-by-step instructions for the use of LLMs to analyze large datasets. It is written with practical cases, taken from management sciences, and emphasizes maintaining a close connection to the data throughout the process. It will be highly valuable to researchers in management studies, as well as in the wider social sciences.