Enhancing qualitative research in psychology with large language models: a methodological exploration and examples of simulations

Abstract

This paper explores the application of large language models (LLMs), particularly GPT-4, as innovative tools in qualitative psychological research. Although LLMs are actively used across various domains, their potential in qualitative psychological studies remains underexplored. This study demonstrates, through a series of simulations, how GPT-4 can assist in planning and conducting exploratory studies, performing narrative analysis, and evaluating different properties of texts through directed and conventional content analysis. The findings reveal that LLMs not only significantly reduce the time required for data analysis but also enhance trustworthiness of the results. This study proposes several methodological points, provides use cases and examples, and summarise the best practices for integrating LLMs into qualitative psychological studies.

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