Artificial Intelligence Powered Tools: The future of social science research

This presentation is part of the programme ‘Meeting the AI and Big Data Revolutions in Quantitative Social Science’, Nexus, which took place on 24 June 2025 at the University of Leeds by Pr Mandeep Dhami. Introducing the LIDA: Science of Data Science Programme. Quantitative social science stands at a critical crossroads. The twin revolutions of big data and AI are transforming our research landscape, bringing a dizzying mix of new opportunities and tricky methodological, ethical, and epistemological challenges. This inaugural session, hosted jointly by the Science for Data Science Programme and the Social Research Methods Centre at Leeds, will examine how these technological disruptions are reshaping the science of social inquiry. How can scientists harness these innovations while maintaining their rigor? What new questions can be answered? And what established practices may require reconsidering? The event features three thought-provoking presentations from the cutting-edge of quantitative social science research, followed by a facilitated discussion on implications for research practice and disciplinary evolution. Join us in this critical conversation about navigating the future of quantitative social science.