Voices from the algorithm

Large language models in social research

Bibliographic Data

ID13064381
AuthorsEmily Cox (0000-0002-8169-3691, University of Oxford, corresponding author), Fiona Shirani (0000-0002-6963-4971, Cardiff University), Paul Rouse (0000-0002-5223-3143, Imperial College London)
Year2024
Volume113
Pages103559-103559
Publication date2024-04-23
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnergy Research & Social Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2214-6296 • E-ISSN: 2214-6326
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.erss.2024.103559
OpenAlexW4395061048
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited18

Research on energy and society often relies on online data collection. In particular, there has been an increase in the use of online techniques such as video software for qualitative research since the pandemic. We suggest that the rapid growth in generative AI and Large Language Models such as Chat-GPT mean that they may be utilised by research participants; particularly in research where participants may be less knowledgeable about the topic under discussion, such as emerging energy technologies. Drawing on examples from recent research, we argue that social scientists need to be cautious in assuming that the voices of our participants are genuinely theirs

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Data collection · Data science · Energy (signal processing · Generative grammar · Qualitative research · Social media · Social research · Social science · Sociology · World Wide Web · Computational and Text Analysis Methods · Computer Science · Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods · Mathematics · Psychology · Social Media and Politics · Artificial Intelligence · Software

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