Resources on AI in social research
In response to recent innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), NCRM is publishing online resources that explore the ways in which the technology is influencing social research. Researchers can access these resources using the links below, or search the NCRM training database to browse our range of short courses.
In addition to these activities, NCRM's Director, Professor Gabriele Durrant, is leading a new AI skills project that aims to develop core skills training in AI methods. Read about the project. It includes a series of short courses taking place in March 2026 on the process of analysing complex large-scale survey data using traditional statistical methods and AI-supported approaches. Find out more on the courses.
Tutorial on AI tools for quantitative research
This tutorial outlines practical guidance for incorporating generative AI models into quantitative research workflows, focusing on coding. It was created for quantitative social scientists, as well as health researchers and data scientists.
Produced by Professor David Bann and Liam Wright of University College London, the tutorial includes four videos, simple descriptions of the key concepts and a list of the tools currently available.
Videos
NCRM produced a series of In Conversation videos in which leading researchers discuss AI-related issues from a variety of perspectives. Topics covered by the videos include AI tools in education research, conversation analysis, working collaboratively with computer scientists and large language models in survey research.
A webinar run by the Data Resources Training Network looked at ways of exploring digital life, technology change and attitudes to AI using secondary, quantitative data from national datasets. It featured presentations from three researchers.
Presenters at a webinar organised by QUEST, NCRM and the SCDTP discussed qualitative analysis and large language models. It featured presentations from three researchers.
The NCRM Annual Lecture 2025 explored responsible AI in research. Four panellists offered expert insight on this crucial topic and answered questions from the audience.
The NCRM Annual Lecture 2024 discussed the challenges that AI poses to social research. The keynote speaker, Professor Noortje Marres of the University of Warwick, presented a new set of methods and strategies that social researchers across disciplines have developed to address these challenges: situational mapping.
Publications
NCRM published a briefing paper that gives an overview of recent advances in AI. It outlines potential future scenarios and discusses the opportunities and challenges that AI presents for social science, focusing particularly on generative AI.
The paper is one of several briefings that NCRM has produced as part of its Methods Futures project. The initiative explores factors, including technological and research-related developments, that may impact social research.