AI and Qualitative Data Analysis: On the Vulnerability of Thematic Analysis and the Importance of Theorizing – Qualitative Inquiry

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‘In December 2025, Qualitative Inquiry published a manifesto signed by 419 “experienced qualitative researchers from 32 countries” rejecting the use of GenAI in thematic analysis (Jowsey, Braun, et al., 2025). Remarkable about this declaration, besides getting over 400 researchers to agree on anything, is that the signatories singled out the risk of GenAI only for reflexive thematic analysis and kindred approaches. This, we argue, was not incidental. Anxiety about GenAI replacing the human researcher in thematic analysis is warranted.’

Link: https://doi.org/10.1177/107780042614701