Course Dates:
A24th – 25th August 6 PM to 9 PM Saudi time
Course Description:
Researching with AI is a practical six-session course for professionals who want to use artificial intelligence to strengthen academic, organisational and business research. The course introduces AI as a research partner, helping participants move from broad interests to focused questions, select suitable methodologies, identify useful tools, and apply AI-supported approaches to data collection and analysis. It balances hands-on experimentation with critical awareness, giving participants the confidence to evaluate outputs, manage bias, protect data, and maintain ethical and transparent research standards. Through guided activities and applied examples, participants will learn how AI can support literature mapping, survey and interview design, desk research, data preparation, quantitative analysis, qualitative coding, synthesis and reporting. The emphasis is on improving the quality, speed and rigour of research while ensuring that professional judgement, methodological integrity and responsible practice remain central.
Course Objectives:
To help participants improve research quality, efficiency and confidence by using AI to refine questions, choose methods, collect and interrogate data, and generate clearer findings while applying appropriate ethical, methodological and professional safeguards.
Target Audience:
Business leaders, managers, analysts, consultants, academics, researchers, postgraduate students and professional staff who want to enhance their research capability through responsible and effective use of AI.
Course outline:
Mapping the Research Question
Turning broad interests into focused, answerable questions; using AI to scope topics, identify gaps, test assumptions and develop research aims while considering ethical concerns.
Methodologies
TReviewing qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches; matching methods to questions; considering validity, reliability, ethics and professional context.
Introduction to AI Tools
Exploring current AI research tools, large language models and specialist platforms; understanding prompt design, verification, limitations and responsible use.
Using AI for Data Collection
Applying AI to literature discovery, desk research, survey and interview design, document analysis and structured data-gathering workflows.
Quantitative Analysis with AI
Using AI to clean, organise, summarise and interpret numerical data; supporting descriptive statistics, pattern recognition, visualisation and reporting.
Qualitative Analysis with AI
Using AI to support coding, theme development, comparison, synthesis and interpretation while retaining transparency, reflexivity and human judgement.
About the Trainer:
Prof Jason Whittaker
Prof Jason Whittaker is a Professor of Communications at the University of Lincoln with extensive experience in communications, digital media, journalism, publishing and higher education leadership. His work includes major publications on the internet, web production, digital humanities, online journalism and artificial intelligence, including Tech Giants, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of Journalism. A former technology journalist, he brings strong digital skills, practical media expertise and a research-led approach to professional learning.
