Leveraging AI for Advanced Methodologies in Global Sociological Research

This presentation explores the innovative use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance the methodological rigor of the Global Crowns project, which investigates Black women's experiences with natural hair across diverse cultural contexts. By integrating AI tools to support global qualitative sociological research, this research redefines traditional qualitative methodologies. AI-powered translation services ensure inclusivity by allowing interviews to be conducted and analyzed across multiple languages, including French, Spanish, and local dialects in regions such as Cuba, Brazil, France, and Burundi. The use of AI enhances the efficiency and depth of thematic analysis by identifying patterns in large-scale qualitative datasets that are difficult to capture through manual coding. AI-driven sentiment analysis further enables a nuanced understanding of the emotional experiences shared by participants. Additionally, real-time AI transcription assists with data collection in ethnographic settings, such as providing detailed fieldnotes from salons, festivals, and community spaces. This technological integration represents a significant advancement in computational social science, offering new possibilities for scaling qualitative research across global regions while maintaining cultural sensitivity. Through this presentation, I will discuss the practical applications of these AI tools, the ethical considerations of using AI in social research, and the potential for AI to revolutionize the way sociological research is conducted on a global scale