GenAI as a social science method - networking

Exploring how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) could be used as a method in social scientific research with a focus on the ethical and practical considerations implied.

Through a series of discussions about the use of GenAI as a social science method, we held two different workshops in late June. An international cohort of 21 presentations with 50+ researchers from 11 different countries presented their use of GenAI in Melbourne and online. These workshops are leading to growing and future collaborations and conversations among social science researchers using GenAI.

The presentations collectively explored the innovative use of Generative AI (GenAI) across diverse research projects, with a focus on imagining and shaping future possibilities in various social science contexts. These projects discuss the use of AI to engage participants in creative and reflective processes, exploring themes such as climate and ageing futures, media, fintech, identity, work futures, body image, and ethnography. We also hosted another workshop which focused on LLMs within domains such as governance, policy, behavior, annotations, migration, urban landscapes, and social media.

These projects collectively demonstrate the potential of GenAI as a tool for exploring, envisioning, and reflecting on future possibilities across various topics in the social sciences, highlighting both its creative potential and the ethical considerations it raises.

Research team: Miguel Gomez Hernandez, Minna Vigren, Debora Lanzeni

Partners:  Aalto University, Centre of Excellence ADM+S, Monash University Emerging Technologies Research Lab

Contact: Miguel Gomez Hernandez

Email: miguel.gomez@monash.edu