AI – or artificial intelligence – is commonly used to summarize data and improve writing. However, AI tools are also a strong and efficient solution to analyze large amounts of text and search for patterns. In addition, AI tools may help develop research products that may be widely used.
In this sense Weas researchers in Social Sciencesdeveloped a brand new Database with AI tools for the realm. In the database, we compiled details about each tool and documented whether it is helpful for literature searches, data collection and evaluation, or dissemination of research results. We also provided information in regards to the costs, logins, and plug-in extensions available for every tool.
When asked about their perceptions of AI, many social scientists express caution or concern. In a sample of college and students from over 600 institutions, only 22% of university professors said they repeatedly use AI tools.
From sifting through long transcripts or text-based data to writing literature reviews and sharing the outcomes, we imagine AI may help social scientists—resembling those in psychology, sociology, and communications—and others get probably the most out of their data and share it with a wider audience.
Analyze text with AI
Qualitative research often involves combing through transcripts or written language to discover themes and patterns. While such a research is powerful, it’s also labor-intensive. Performance of AI platforms in crawling large data sets Not only saves researchers time, but may also help them analyze data that might not previously be analyzed as a result of the scale of the dataset.
In particular, AI can support social scientists by Identification of potential topics or common themes in large, text-based data that scientists can explore using qualitative research methods. For example, AI can analyze 15 million social media posts to discover themes in how persons are coping with COVID-19. These themes can then give researchers insights into larger trends in the info, allowing us to refine criteria for deeper, qualitative evaluation.
AI tools may also be used to regulate the language and word selection of scientists in research designs. In particular, AI can reduce bias by improving the wording of questions in surveys or Refine keywords is utilized in data collection on social media.
Identify knowledge gaps
Another necessary task of research is to look the sphere for previous work to discover knowledge gaps. AI applications are based on Systems that may synthesize textThis makes literature reviews—the section of a research paper that summarizes other research on the identical topic—and writing processes more efficient.
Research shows that human feedback to AI, resembling providing examples of easy logic, can significantly improve the tools' performance. Ability to attract complex conclusionsWith this in mind, we are able to continually revise our instructions to the AI and refine its ability to retrieve relevant literature.
However, social scientists must watch out for false sources – major concern with generative AI. It is significant to examine all sources provided by AI tools to make sure they arrive from peer-reviewed journals.
Share research results
AI tools can summarize research results quickly and in a reader-friendly way by assisting with writing blogs, creating infographics, and producing presentation slides and even images.
Our database incorporates AI tools that may also help scientists present their results on social media. One tool value highlighting is BlogTweet. This free AI tool lets users copy and paste text from articles like this one to generate tweet threads and begin conversations.
Be aware of the prices of AI tools
Two-thirds of the tools within the database are paid. Our important goal was to search out probably the most useful tools for social scientists, but we also wanted to search out open source tools and have compiled a listing of 85 free tools that may help with literature research, writing, data collection, evaluation, and visualization.
In our evaluation of the associated fee of AI tools, we also found that a lot of them offer “freemium” access to tools. This means you may try a free version of the product. More advanced versions of the tool can be found by purchasing tokens or subscriptions.
With some tools, the prices may be somewhat hidden or unexpected. For example, a tool that appears to be open source at first glance may very well have rate limits, and users may find that they run out of free inquiries to ask the AI.
The way forward for the database
Since the publication of the Database for applications of artificial intelligence for social science research As of October 5, 2023, it has been downloaded over 400 times in 49 countries. In the database, we found 131 AI tools useful for literature research, summarizing, or writing. A complete of 146 AI tools are useful for data collection or evaluation, and 108 are useful for disseminating research results.
We proceed to update the database and hope that it may possibly help academic communities explore AI and stimulate recent conversations. The more social scientists use the database, the more they’ll work toward consensus, ethical approaches to using AI in research and evaluation.
image credit : theconversation.com