How AI Can Enhance Survey Research

Abstract: Survey organizations face persistent challenges: declining response rates, rising data collection costs, and increasing demands for timely, high-quality insights. As AI reshapes industries across the globe, its integration into survey research offers a powerful opportunity to enhance operational efficiency and data quality, but also introduces potential pitfalls. This talk will describe how researchers at NORC at the University of Chicago, a nationally recognized non-partisan research institution, leverage AI to enhance quantitative social science research while managing its risks. We will focus on two use cases in particular: open-ended response classification and conversational interviewing. Our talk underscores the breadth of AI’s potential across the survey lifecycle and the importance of a structured framework to guide AI integration.

This is a hybrid event. To attend online, join us on Zoom here at 6pm:
https://iit-edu.zoom.us/j/89379230295?pwd=NdETyE5sdYuSrvsrBZXSBFkUESBVkg.1

Meeting ID: 893 7923 0295
Passcode: 5t5WYn

Sponsor: Grainger will provide the meeting site, as well as snacks for the onsite participants.

• Address: 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, 18th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654
• Grainger's Overview: W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broadline distributor with over $17 billion in revenue. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products and services delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. Our machine learning team builds broadly across search, recommendations, product matching, computer vision, and generative AI.
• Logistics: To access the Grainger office, we require first and last names of those who RSVP'd by Nov 12. Please take the main elevators at the center of the Mart. Attendees will then present their IDs when they arrive at the front desk on the 18th floor.