ICSE 2026
Sun 12 - Sat 18 April 2026 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mon 13 Apr 2026 11:18 - 11:36 at Oceania III - Qualitative Studies Chair(s): Silvia Abrahão

[Context] Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly used to assist qualitative research in Software Engineering (SE), yet their methodological implications remain underexplored. Their integration into interpretive processes such as thematic analysis raises fundamental questions about rigor, transparency, and researcher agency. [Objective] This study investigates how experienced SE researchers conceptualize the opportunities, risks, and methodological implications of integrating LLMs into thematic analysis. [Method] A reflective workshop with 25 ISERN researchers guided participants through structured discussions of LLM-assisted open coding, theme generation, and theme reviewing, using color-coded canvases to document perceived opportunities, limitations, and recommendations. [Results] Participants recognized potential efficiency and scalability gains, but highlighted risks related to bias, contextual loss, reproducibility, and the rapid evolution of LLMs. They also emphasized the need for prompting literacy and continuous human oversight. [Conclusion] Findings portray LLMs as tools that can support, but not substitute, interpretive analysis. The study contributes to ongoing community reflections on how hybrid human–AI approaches might responsibly enhance qualitative research in SE.

Mon 13 Apr

Displayed time zone: Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil change

11:00 - 12:30
Qualitative StudiesWSESE at Oceania III
Chair(s): Silvia Abrahão Universitat Politècnica de València
11:00
18m
Full-paper
On the Use of Large Language Models for Qualitative SynthesisTechnical Paper
WSESE
Sebastián Pizard Universidad de la República, Ramiro Moreira Universidad de la República, Federico Galiano Universidad de la República, Ignacio Sastre Universidad de la República, Lorena Etcheverry Universidad de la República
Pre-print
11:18
18m
Full-paper
LLM-Assisted Thematic Analysis: Opportunities, Limitations, and RecommendationsTechnical Paper
WSESE
Tatiane Ornelas Martins Alves Department of Informatics - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Allysson Allex Araújo Federal University of Cariri, Júlia Condé Araújo Department of Informatics - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Marina Condé Araújo Department of Informatics - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Bianca Trinkenreich Colorado State University, Marcos Kalinowski Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)
Pre-print
11:36
18m
Full-paper
An Investigation on How AI-Generated Responses Affect Software Engineering SurveysTechnical Paper
WSESE
Ronnie de Souza Santos University of Calgary, Italo Santos University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Maria Teresa Baldassarre Department of Computer Science, University of Bari , Cleyton Magalhaes Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Mairieli Wessel Radboud University
Pre-print
11:54
14m
Vision and Emerging Results
OLAF: Towards Robust LLM-Based Annotation Framework in Empirical Software EngineeringVirtual AttendanceVision / Position Paper
WSESE
Mia Mohammad Imran Missouri University of Science and Technology, Tarannum Shaila Zaman University of Maryland Baltimore County
Pre-print File Attached
12:08
22m
Panel
Discussion of Qualitative Studies
WSESE