QPD-Modul 2: Datenkompetenz und Digitale Methoden (Vertiefung)
Experiments with LLMs in Fieldnotes, Analysis, Writing, and Reflexivity
What could AI offer in ethnographic research and where does it flatten, overinterpret, invent, or produce false coherence and what new forms of reflection become necessary and possible? In this experimental and hands-on workshop participants will work through exercises involving scribbles, diary writing, analytical interpretation, essay drafting, and reflection. We will examine how LLMs can act as interlocutors, critics, and writing partners, sometimes through deliberately assigned roles, while also asking how researchers can retain responsibility for what is generated, revised, accepted, or rejected. The workshop is especially relevant for doctoral researchers, ethnographers, qualitative researchers, and teachers interested in AI and methodology. Participants are invited to bring short excerpts from their own scribbles, fieldnotes, or research memos, although sample material can also be provided.
Workshop lead and organization:
The workshop will be led by Prof. Dr. Paula Bialski (University of St. Gallen & WI) and Prof. Dr. Götz Bachmann (University of Siegen). It is organized by the Weizenbaum PhD Network „Research in Practice“, coordinated by Katharina Berr and Jana Heim, and supported by the Weizenbaum Methods Lab.
Date: 29 October 2026
Time: 10am-2pm
Language: English
Prerequisites: Having worked with data of all sorts; also other
questions and problems that might be tackled by applying LLMs. A
background in computer science is not required but a basic technical
understanding and interest is helpful.
Participation: The workshop is an offer for members of the Graduate Center for Doctoral Students. Advance registration is required. Please register via the registration form and indicate both your affiliation and whether you would like to participate in person or online.