AI-Based Notes and Transcription Services in Qualitative Research: Ethical and Methodological Concerns

Ethical and Methodological Concerns in AI-Based Notes and Transcription Services for Qualitative Research

  • Impact of online interviewing via videoconferencing platforms on qualitative data collection.
  • Limited discussion in Library and Information Science (LIS) regarding AI in online data collection.
  • Highlights ethical and methodological concerns when using AI meeting assistants like Zoom and Otter.ai.
  • Calls for specific LIS guidelines for online research using AI technology.

Evolution of Data Collection

  • Shift from phone interviews to computer-based interviews utilizing various ICTs.
  • Technology-mediated interviewing (Kazmer & Xie, 2008) or online interviews (Oates et al., 2022) in LIS.
  • Online synchronous interviews via videoconferencing platforms produce born-digital data.
  • AI advancements in platforms like Zoom Meetings enhance real-time captioning.

Ethical Concerns in Internet-Based Research

  • Transparency, data bias, privacy, and ownership in line with AI ethics (Horváth, 2022).
  • Limited LIS discussion on ethical and methodological concerns of AI-based notes and transcription services.

Key Ethical Issues:

  • Data Ownership and Intellectual Property Management: Ensuring data safety and security under regulations like GDPR.
  • Distrust in Collaboration: Occurs in diverse research teams due to ethnic and geographical differences.
  • Implicit Speech Bias: AI tools may favor native English speakers and struggle with diverse accents (Goldenthal et al., 2021).
  • Decision-Making Accountability: AI autonomy raises ethical dilemmas (Long & Magerko, 2020).

Methodological Concerns

  • Data Repository and Flow Strategies: Researchers must review data management plans for internet-based research.
  • Real-Time Nature of Interactions: Observing participant behavior and managing distractions during online data collection (Lim & Kaveri, 2024).

Study Methodology and Findings

  • Study reflects on online interviews with student mothers using Zoom & Otter.ai for transcriptions.
  • Using two services provides backup in case of technical issues.
  • Data security and privacy measures are essential (GDPR, CCPA, VPAT compliance).
  • Institutional email accounts and storage (e.g., OneDrive) utilized for data management.

Future Plans

  • Reflection opens discussion on ethical/methodological concerns in LIS research using AI-based transcription services.
  • Calls for LIS guidelines in internet-based research using AI.