Brains and Bots in Action: Using Manual Coding and Machine Insights in Qualitative Analysis

This experiential activity introduces a comparative approach to teaching qualitative data analysis in graduate research methods courses, integrating manual coding with AI-assisted interpretation. Participants engage in a structured, three-phase process: collaborative manual classification of qualitative responses, individual AI-driven analysis using Large Language Models, and critical synthesis of human and machine outputs. The activity emphasizes interpretive rigor, ethical integration of AI, and the development of prompt engineering skills. By situating AI as an augmentative partner rather than a black box, the exercise fosters transparency, methodological integrity, and prepares researchers to balance efficiency with contextual depth in modern research design.