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Plate AI·003 · AI workflowGrid H5 · Rev. 2026-08-14

Research Notes to Insights

Assisted coding of qualitative data, which speeds up the first pass and must not replace the analysis.

AI workflowCraft conventionAdvanced

Definition

A model can code transcripts against a scheme, cluster observations and suggest themes. Used carefully it accelerates synthesis; used carelessly it produces plausible themes that nobody verified against the data.

Craft convention. True because the industry converged on it. Breaking it costs familiarity, not correctness.

On this plate
  1. 1Definition
  2. 2A defensible process
  3. 3Local chart
  4. 4Continue from here

Reach for this when

  • Large volumes of qualitative data.
  • A first coding pass under time pressure.
  • Checking your own synthesis for missed themes.

Common mistakes

  • Themes accepted without checking the quotes.
  • Personal data sent without consent.
  • Interpretation delegated entirely.
  • Disconfirming evidence never requested.

A defensible process

  1. 1

    Anonymise first

    Remove names, employers and any identifying detail before anything leaves your environment. Check what your consent form permitted.

  2. 2

    Code one transcript yourself

    Establish the scheme manually, so you know what good coding looks like for this study.

  3. 3

    Have the model code the rest against that scheme

    Require a verbatim quote and a session identifier for every code.

  4. 4

    Spot-check aggressively

    Verify a substantial sample of codes against the source. Miscodings are plausible and easy to miss.

  5. 5

    Cluster yourself

    Theme identification is where interpretation happens. Do it with the coded data in front of you.

  6. 6

    Ask for disconfirming evidence

    Explicitly request quotes that contradict each theme, and read them.

Local chart

AI·003 · Region XII · Grid H5

This entry and the entries it is stated to connect with. Each line is labelled with what the connection means.

Confirmation BiasBIAS·009 · PRINCIPLES BEHIND THISResearch PlanTPL·001 · OFTEN USED WITHClaudeTOOL·049 · OFTEN USED WITHDovetailTOOL·014 · OFTEN USED WITHAffinity MappingRES·020 · RELATED CONCEPTDiary StudiesRES·013 · RELATED CONCEPTResearch SynthesisRES·014 · RELATED CONCEPTUsability TestingRES·001 · RELATED CONCEPTUser InterviewsRES·003 · RELATED CONCEPT

Continue from here

Each link says what the connection is, so you can tell a principle from an alternative from a thing people mix this up with.

Principles behind this

The reasoning this solution is an application of.

Often used with

These usually appear in the same screen or the same decision.

Related concept

Connected closely enough to change how you apply this.