The study at a glance
Topic studied: Community knowledge and perceptions of anthrax in farming communities near game management areas in Zambia.
Published in: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, peer-reviewed and open access, 2025, with ethics clearance from ERES Converge.
Method: Reflexive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke) combined with AI tools in a hybrid approach, with focus groups conducted in Tonga, Lozi, and Ila and translated into English.
Evidano’s role: Evidano ran AI-assisted sentiment analysis on the focus group transcripts, the one task among the study’s AI tools given to a dedicated qualitative analysis platform.
How Evidano was used
The study reports these signals added depth to themes including Impact of Anthrax on Communities, Social Impacts, and Risk Perceptions. Every AI-generated theme was compared with direct quotes from the transcripts, and themes were reviewed independently by multiple researchers in a data analysis workshop.
How Evidano fit the workflow
The study describes AI as an aid used to complement, not replace, human judgment.
- 1Transcripts prepared
Focus groups recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English.
- 2AI-assisted sentiment analysis
Evidano detected emotional tone across the transcripts to guide the analysis.
- 3Human validation and synthesis
Researchers cross-referenced outputs with verbatim quotes and finalized themes through multiple validation rounds.
“AILYZE 2.3 contributed an emotional dimension by detecting heightened anxiety and mistrust.”
“The AI-generated outputs served as a guide, but the final synthesis relied on human judgment to ensure contextual accuracy.”
“AI's potential as an analytical aid while highlighting the essential role of human expertise.”