Document Type

Newsletter

Publication Date

2025

Publication Title

The Survey Statistician

Volume

92

Pages

30-44

Abstract

Surveys are a core methodological tool in government, industry, and academia, providing essential data for theory development and evidence-based decision-making. As artificial intelligence continues its rapid advancement, it stands to fundamentally transform the entire survey lifecycle - from design and administration to analytics and reporting. Previous transitions to new technologies, such as telephone, internet, and non-probability surveys, led to divisions within the survey research community with real consequences for both the trajectory of research and trust in the industry. We believe the survey community should take proactive steps now to avoid similar challenges with AI integration. Specifically, our paper examines the potential benefits and risks AI introduces to survey methodology. We first identify promising research opportunities and innovations that merit further exploration. We then outline strategic recommendations for the survey research community to navigate this transition effectively, including guidelines for publication standards and research prioritization. Finally, we propose collaborative initiatives between AI specialists and survey researchers that could yield mutual advantages. This paper aims to influence the trajectory of research and implementation during this critical early phase. By addressing these considerations now, we hope to facilitate a more efficient and constructive integration of AI into survey research practices.

Rights

Copyright © 2025, David M. Rothschild, Trent D. Buskirk, Stephanie Eckman, D. Sunshine Hillygus, Frauke Kreuter, David Lazer.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Comments

Alternate title: New and Emerging Methods: Successfully Navigating the Disruption AI will Bring to Survey Research.

Link to publisher landing page: https://isi-iass.org/home/services/the-survey-statistician/

ORCID

0000-0003-4798-9154 (Buskirk)

Original Publication Citation

Rothschild, D. M., Buskirk, T. D., Eckman, S., Hillygus, D. S., Kreuter, F., & Lazer, D. (2025). Successfully navigating the disruption AI will bring to survey research. The Survey Statistician, 92, 30-44. https://isi-iass.org/home/wp-content/uploads/Survey_Statistician_2025_July_N92_04.pdf

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