From Coding to Conversation: A New Methodological Framework for AI-Assisted Qualitative Analysis

The rapid emergence of generative AI tools challenges traditional assumptions about qualitative data analysis, particularly the central role of coding. This article introduces Conversational Analysis to the Power of AI (CA ^AI ), a novel methodological framework that replaces coding with structured, dialogic interaction between researchers and large language models. CA ^AI reimagines analysis as a process of iterative questioning, synthesis, and reflexive interpretation rather than segmentation and categorization. Grounded in a hermeneutic epistemology and emphasizing methodological rigor, CA ^AI integrates inductive, deductive, and abductive reasoning strategies. It allows researchers to adapt procedures from established methods like Grounded Theory while embracing a distributed and co-constructive model of knowledge creation. The article outlines a five-step process for CA ^AI , discusses reliability and validity in this new paradigm, and positions the approach within broader shifts toward post-coding qualitative inquiry. CA ^AI offers a compelling alternative for researchers seeking to deepen interpretation, democratize analytic access, and expand the epistemic horizons of qualitative research in the age of AI.