This interactive, hands-on workshop will introduce participants to a research design framework for considering the use of generative AI in qualitative research designs and workflows (Paulus & Lester, 2024).

We will start by acknowledging inherent risks and ethical dilemmas posed by the development of large language models and how generative AI is challenging the essence of what it means to do qualitative work (Paulus & Marone, 2024; Paulus, Lester & Davis, 2025). We will learn how to distinguish between methodological strategies and technological tactics, i.e. why researchers must first know how they want to work with their data before choosing the best tools to do so. We will then discuss the current ‘state of play’ regarding the various genres of AI-assist technologies available to qualitative researchers and how to select the most appropriate platform. We will then design and implement an “AI-assisted workflow” for managing and analyzing data using MAXQDA. Finally, we will discuss best practices for how to report the use of AI in research studies (Lester & Paulus, forthcoming) and how to reflexively consider the consequences of doing so.

Sample interview data will be used for the practice exercises with discussion around the use of other types of qualitative data. Workshop time will alternate between short lectures and demonstrations, small group discussions, practical hands-on activities, and application of principles learned to the participants’ own research studies and data.

Outline:

• Mindset:

  • Risks and ethical quandaries inherent in large language models

  • Assumptions and misconceptions about qualitative research (Paulus & Marone, 2024; Paulus, Lester & Davis, 2025)

  • Considering the consequences of AI adoption via a ‘technological reflexivity’ framework (Paulus & Lester, 2024)

• Qualitative research methodologies, designs and workflows:

  • Methodologies, methods, strategies and tactics (Woolf & Silver, 2018)

  • AI across the research workflow (Paulus, 2023)

  • The role of generative AI

• Genres of AI-assist tools for qualitative methods:

  • General purpose tools, legacy QDA platforms, new web-based applications

  • Why MAXQDA?

• Implementing analysis strategies with MAXQDA tactics:

  • Document summaries

  • Chat with documents

  • AI-assist coding

  • Coded segment summaries

  • Chat with coded segments

  • Tailwind

• Reporting and evaluating use of AI (Lester & Paulus, forthcoming)

Audience & Prerequisites

The workshop welcomes participants with a variety of backgrounds. However, it will be particularly useful to:

• participants with some experience with qualitative research design with an idea of a research question, methodology, data sources, and analytic methods in mind

• have a laptop with Internet access and trial versions of MAXQDA (with AI-Assist) and MAXQDA Tailwind installed prior to the workshop

Readings & Resources

Lester, J.N. & Paulus, T. (In press) The MERIT Framework: Guiding responsible innovation in qualitative methods. Invited chapter for D. Morgan and S. Friese (Eds.) Qualitative Data Analysis with Artificial Intelligence: Theory, Methods and Practice. Sage.

Lester, J.N., Cho, Y. & Lochmiller, C.R. (2020). Learning to do qualitative data analysis: A starting point. Human Resource Development Review 19(1), 94-106. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1177/1534484320903890

Paulus, T.M. (2023). Using qualitative data analysis software to support digital research workflows. Human Resource Development Review 22(1), 139-148. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/15344843221138381

Paulus, T.M., Lester, J. & Davis, C. (2025). The construction of the role of AI in qualitative data analysis in the social sciences. AI & Society. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-025-02488-3

Paulus, T.M. & Marone, V. (2024) “In minutes instead of weeks”: Discourse dilemmas on AI for qualitative data analysis. Qualitative Inquiry 31(5), 395-402. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10778004241250065

Paulus, T.M. & Lester, J. N. (2024). Digital qualitative research workflows: a reflexivity framework for technological consequences. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 27(6), 621–634. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13645579.2023.2237359

Woolf, N. H. & Silver, C. (2018). Qualitative analysis using NVivo: The five-level QDA method. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Qualitative-Analysis-Using-NVivo-The-Five-Level-QDAr-Method/Woolf-Silver/p/book/9781138743670

Woolf, N. (2016). What is Five-Level QDA all about? https://www.qdas.co.uk/post/what-is-five-level-qda-all-about