To Vibe Research or Not to Vibe Research? Generative AI in Qualitative Research
It provides a conceptual framework for software engineering researchers to decide when generative AI is appropriate in qualitative studies.
The paper discusses the debate on using generative AI in qualitative research, focusing on how research philosophy (small-q vs. Big Q), skills, ethics, and preferences influence its suitability for software engineering researchers.
There has been intense debate among qualitative researchers about whether generative AI is suitable for qualitative research. In this paper, we summarize the broader ongoing discussion of generative AI in qualitative research and its implications for software engineering researchers. The qualitative research approach, small-q (positivist or post-positivist) or Big Q (non-positivist), is among the major criteria for determining whether generative AI can be used in qualitative research. In addition to research philosophy and research approach, skills, ethics, and personal preferences also play a role in researchers' decisions about whether to use AI in qualitative research.