5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

Research in digital sociology faces several pressing methodological challenges in the age of AI. AI is revolutionizing the way researchers collect, analyze, and interpret data, offering unprecedented opportunities to improve the quality and scope of social research.This session will explore novel and original perspectives on conducting research in contemporary digital societies, particularly in the context of AI and large language models (LLMs).

1. Data Collection and Processing: We will discuss how AI automates data collection from diverse sources such as social media, online forums, and surveys. Techniques such as natural language processing (NLP) enable efficient analysis of text data, helping researchers identify trends and sentiments.
2. Advanced Data Analysis: The session will highlight the application of machine learning algorithms to identify patterns and correlations within large data sets.
3. Predictive Analytics: We will explore how AI models can predict social trends and behaviors, aiding in policy making and strategic planning.
4. Enhanced Surveys and Interviews: The role of AI-powered chatbots in conducting adaptive and efficient surveys and interviews will be explored.
5. Bias Detection and Reduction: Discuss how AI can help identify and reduce bias in research, ensuring more accurate and representative results.
6. Real-Time Analysis: The session will cover the benefits of real-time data analysis enabled by AI, which is critical to addressing pressing social issues.

Organized as part of the initiative to launch the Digital Sociology Book Series at Emerald Publishing, this session is aimed at social researchers, data scientists, and policy makers interested in integrating AI into social research methodologies.