Automating the qualitative interview? Using Gen AI chatbots in social science research

Abstract

Generative Artificial Intelligence methods using large language models can rapidly generate and process text, fuelling interest in qualitative research applications. To explore these possibilities, we developed a chatbot to interview social scientists at a Swedish university (n = 74) and then conducted follow-up email exchanges about their experiences (n = 23). This article presents an empirical example of a Gen AI–mediated qualitative interviewing setup, in which a chatbot conducts simultaneous, adaptive interviews to elicit in-depth engagement. We also show that around half of the social scientists in our sample are already experimenting with Gen AI in their academic work, primarily for writing support, literature engagement, transcription and, to a lesser extent, data analysis. We argue that chatbots can be powerful tools for qualitative research, but caution that they require careful oversight, critical reflexivity, and ongoing methodological development. This knowledge adds a nuanced, empirically grounded example of Gen AI–mediated interviewing, relevant for social scientists seeking to integrate Generative AI into their research practice.