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The Human Element: Artificial Intelligence Will Not Replace Qualitative Researchers.

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Title: The Human Element: Artificial Intelligence Will Not Replace Qualitative Researchers.
Authors: Hawkins, Robert L (AUTHOR)
Source: Social Work Research. Jun2026, Vol. 50 Issue 2, p75-79. 5p.
Subjects: Empathy, Professional autonomy, Intuition, Qualitative research, Occupational roles, Artificial intelligence, Natural language processing, Decision making, Social case work, Critical thinking, Research ethics, Cognition
Abstract: The article examines the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models (LLMs), in qualitative research, highlighting both its capabilities and ethical challenges. It discusses how AI tools like ChatGPT and Elicit AI can efficiently assist with tasks such as literature reviews, coding, and data analysis, yet they lack the human elements of empathy, reflexivity, and critical interpretation essential to qualitative inquiry. The article emphasizes the importance of ethical transparency in AI use, cautioning against plagiarism and algorithmic bias, and advocates for a collaborative model where AI supports but does not replace human researchers. Additionally, it raises concerns about the impact of AI on education and early-career researchers, questioning whether reliance on AI might undermine the development of critical research skills and increase pressures to prioritize quantity over quality in scholarly work. [Extracted from the article]
Copyright of Social Work Research is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The Human Element: Artificial Intelligence Will Not Replace Qualitative Researchers.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empathy%22">Empathy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+autonomy%22">Professional autonomy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intuition%22">Intuition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Occupational+roles%22">Occupational roles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+intelligence%22">Artificial intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Natural+language+processing%22">Natural language processing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+making%22">Decision making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+case+work%22">Social case work</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Critical+thinking%22">Critical thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+ethics%22">Research ethics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognition%22">Cognition</searchLink>
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  Data: The article examines the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models (LLMs), in qualitative research, highlighting both its capabilities and ethical challenges. It discusses how AI tools like ChatGPT and Elicit AI can efficiently assist with tasks such as literature reviews, coding, and data analysis, yet they lack the human elements of empathy, reflexivity, and critical interpretation essential to qualitative inquiry. The article emphasizes the importance of ethical transparency in AI use, cautioning against plagiarism and algorithmic bias, and advocates for a collaborative model where AI supports but does not replace human researchers. Additionally, it raises concerns about the impact of AI on education and early-career researchers, questioning whether reliance on AI might undermine the development of critical research skills and increase pressures to prioritize quantity over quality in scholarly work. [Extracted from the article]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Social Work Research is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194231687
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1093/swr/svag007
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 5
        StartPage: 75
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Empathy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional autonomy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intuition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Occupational roles
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Artificial intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Natural language processing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Decision making
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social case work
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      – SubjectFull: Critical thinking
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      – SubjectFull: Research ethics
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      – SubjectFull: Cognition
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      – TitleFull: The Human Element: Artificial Intelligence Will Not Replace Qualitative Researchers.
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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