Thematic Analysis
Thematic analysis is a qualitative research method used to identify recurring patterns and themes within textual data, aiming to understand underlying meanings and interpretations. Current research focuses on leveraging large language models (LLMs) like GPT-3 and GPT-4 to automate aspects of this process, improving efficiency and scalability, particularly for large datasets. This integration of AI is being explored across various fields, from social sciences analyzing social media posts to legal studies examining court documents, with a strong emphasis on ensuring human oversight and validation to maintain analytical rigor and address potential biases. The resulting insights can inform better decision-making in diverse areas, including healthcare, policy, and user experience design.