Ethical AI in Social Sciences Research: Are We Gatekeepers or Revolutionaries?

Remus Runcan, Vasile Hațegan, Ovidiu Toderici, Gabriel Croitoru, Mihaela Gavrila-Ardelean, Lavinia Denisia Cuc, Dana Rad (), Alina Costin and Tiberiu Dughi
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Remus Runcan: Centre of Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
Vasile Hațegan: Centre of Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
Ovidiu Toderici: Centre of Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
Gabriel Croitoru: Centre for Economic Research and Consultancy, Faculty of Economics, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
Mihaela Gavrila-Ardelean: Centre of Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
Lavinia Denisia Cuc: Centre for Economic Research and Consultancy, Faculty of Economics, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
Dana Rad: Centre of Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
Alina Costin: Centre of Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania
Tiberiu Dughi: Centre of Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310032 Arad, Romania

Societies, 2025, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) in social sciences research introduces both transformative potential and critical ethical dilemmas. This study examines the role of researchers as either ethical gatekeepers or pioneers of AI-driven change. Through a bibliometric analysis of 464 records from the Web of Science Core Collection, we identify key themes in ethical AI discourse using VOSviewer Version 1.6.20. The findings highlight dominant ethical concerns, including governance, bias, transparency, and fairness, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaborations and responsible AI frameworks. While AI offers efficiency and scalability in research, unresolved issues related to algorithmic bias, governance, and public trust persist. The overlay visualization underscores emerging trends such as generative AI, policy-driven governance, and ethical accountability frameworks. This study calls for a shift from passive oversight to proactive ethical stewardship in AI-driven social science research.

Keywords: ethical AI; social sciences; responsible AI; governance; bias; transparency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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