Navegando la investigación social en la era digital: una guía práctica para el análisis cualitativo y cuantitativo con apoyo de Inteligencia Artificial (IA)

Abstract

This text is a pedagogical guide aimed at social researchers, focusing on socio­spatial studies, for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI)—specifically Large Language Models (LLMs)—into the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. Module 1 emphasizes the conceptual and methodological preparation required before qualitative analysis, which is crucial for ensuring rigor, especially when using AI. Module 2 provides a step­-by-­step practical guide for qualitative analysis assisted by LLMs, highlighting prompt creation, data processing, human validation, and ethical considerations. Module 3 introduces Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) for quantitative research, proposing the use of Python or R with AI as an assistant to identify patterns and generate hypotheses in socio-spatial data. Finally, Module 4 focuses on prompt engineering, offering strategies for effective interaction with LLMs. The guide aims to equip users with conceptual foundations, practical skills, and ethical awareness to use AI responsibly, fostering deeper and more efficient social research.