Workshops and Special Sessions 

On Methodological Rigor: Conducting Systematic Literature Reviews Using AI

Facilitator: Dr Marco Balzano

Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 12.00-14.00 (Pre-Conference Day) 

During the first part of the seminar, we will focus on methodological rigor in conducting systematic literature reviews, emphasizing the principles and processes that ensure transparency, replicability, and meaningful contribution to academic discourse. We will reflect on how a well-structured review begins with the clear definition of research questions and theoretical boundaries, guiding the inclusion and exclusion criteria that frame the study. Together, we will examine how the development of an effective search string is central to retrieving a relevant body of literature, requiring careful selection of keywords and Boolean operators to balance breadth and specificity. As part of our discussion, we will explore best practices for querying and selecting appropriate academic databases, particularly Scopus and Web of Science, to refine the scope of investigation and ensure access to high-quality, peer-reviewed sources. Through practical examples, we will see how systematic screening and extraction allow researchers to filter out irrelevant or redundant materials while maintaining methodological consistency. We will also analyze common pitfalls in literature reviews—such as selection bias, lack of coherence in synthesis, and misalignment between research questions and findings—and discuss strategies to mitigate these challenges through a structured and iterative approach. A key theme of the seminar will be the role of AI in supporting literature reviews. We will examine how AI-driven tools can facilitate various phases of the review process, from text mining and thematic clustering to the automated organization of articles. Through interactive demonstrations, we will see how AI can enhance efficiency and accuracy in structuring and analyzing vast bodies of literature, helping researchers identify patterns, categorize insights, and generate structured narratives. However, throughout the discussion, we will critically assess the extent to which AI should be integrated into academic workflows, emphasizing the researcher’s judgment in ensuring conceptual clarity and methodological soundness.

Required material and access:

• Laptop (for hands-on AI-assisted exercises)
• Access to Scopus (for systematic search and review exercises)

Crafting a Theoretical Contribution: AI as a Companion in Structuring Knowledge

Facilitator: Dr Marco Balzano

Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 15.00-17.00 (Pre-Conference Day)

Building on the foundation of a rigorous literature review, we will examine how the transition to theorization requires systematic coding and structured interpretation of the extracted knowledge. During the seminar, we will explore how identifying gaps in the literature is not merely about recognizing missing pieces but about understanding the conditions under which a meaningful theoretical contribution can emerge. We will reflect on how theorizing involves moving beyond summary toward conceptual synthesis, developing insights that refine or extend existing frameworks. Throughout our discussion, we will consider the miner–prospector continuum as a guiding framework for literature reviews and theory development. We will see how the miner approach emphasizes a meticulous excavation of existing research, systematically organizing and synthesizing knowledge to uncover patterns and refine established perspectives. In contrast, the prospector takes a more exploratory stance, searching for new theoretical directions, bridging disconnected conversations, and introducing novel conceptual frameworks. Together, we will analyze when and how each of these orientations can be effectively applied to different research contexts. We will also engage with the role of qualitative coding in structuring data, categorizing themes, and revealing patterns that inform theoretical development. During the session, we will explore both manual and AI-assisted approaches to coding, examining how generative AI tools and AI-driven content analysis systems can provide structured ways to explore thematic networks and construct conceptual maps. Through interactive examples, we will discuss how AI can be used as a complementary tool to assist in pattern recognition and conceptual organization while ensuring that interpretative control remains in the hands of the researcher. Also here a key focus will be how AI can inspire rather than dictate the theorization process. We will reflect on how AI-generated insights can support scholars in crafting and refining core theoretical constructs, enhancing the coherence of conceptual models, and exploring novel linkages that might otherwise remain overlooked. The seminar will conclude with a broader discussion on the evolving role of AI in academic research, acknowledging that while theorization remains an inherently human-driven endeavor, AI can serve as a valuable companion in refining arguments, structuring knowledge, and revealing new pathways for conceptual development.

 Required material and access:

• Laptop (for hands-on AI-assisted exercises)
• Access to Scopus (for systematic search and review exercises)

About the worshkop facilitator