16(3). 04. Benefits and Cautions of Using Artificial Intelligence to Support Joint Display Creation: A Primer for Mixed Methods Researchers

Description

Author

Lauren E. Decker-Woodrow

Westat, Inc., Bethesda, MD, USA

 

Abstract

Joint displays have gained interest and use within mixed methods research over the last several years, serving as a tool that assists researchers in study planning, integration, meta-inference, and the interpretation of results. As generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities continue to advance, researchers must consider both the potential benefits and cautions of utilizing AI to support the development of joint displays. This article first briefly examines the purpose and uses of joint displays, then presents the potential benefits and cautions of using AI to support their development. As with many facets in our current society, using AI as a tool raises concerns that updated graphing and coding capacities might lead to overly complex displays and misinterpretation of findings. This article, therefore, presents an introductory discussion of the promise of using AI, accompanied by a strong warning that these tools do not replace the role of the researcher during analysis, interpretation, and communication of findings.