Autocode with Protobi AI

Streamline your open-end data analysis with Protobi AI Autocode — a powerful, intelligent feature designed to simplify the categorization of text responses. Whether you're new to qualitative data analysis or looking to save hours of time manually coding open-ends, this tutorial will guide you through how to use Protobi AI Autocode.

What is Protobi AI Autocode?

Protobi AI Autocode leverages artificial intelligence to automatically categorize open-ended responses, turning complex qualitative data into organized, actionable insights with minimal manual effort. It can intelligently generate new coded categories, finish building partially coded data, use your existing categories to classify responses, and infer labels and descriptions for your existing coded categories.

AI Autocode options & what they do

Create: Create and apply a new categorization given text responses

This option generates a brand-new codeframe from scratch based on your raw open-end responses. The AI analyzes patterns, themes, and keywords in the data to suggest logical categories.

This is best for questions where all responses are still raw open-ends and you have not implemented any coding yet, or for questions where you want to remove all existing codes and start from scratch using the AI's categorizations.

Complete: Complete and apply an existing partial categorization

This option finishes a partially coded dataset by applying AI-suggested categories to uncategorized responses only. It ensures consistency with your existing categories.

This option is particularly valuable when you have partially coded raw open-ended responses and require an efficient way to categorize the remaining data. By manually coding a subset of responses, you establish a clear codeframe, which guides the AI in applying consistent codes to uncategorized responses.

Apply: Apply (but not change) existing categories to given responses

This option strictly uses predefined categories to classify responses without modifying or generating any new codes. Ideal when you only need automated tagging.

This functions similarly to Complete, but with one key difference: Apply won't generate new categories. Use Complete instead if you already have some predefined categories but also want the AI to suggest additional ones while tagging unclassified responses.

Describe: Infer category labels and descriptions from an existing categorization

This option analyzes your existing categories and generates clear labels and descriptions for clarity. Useful for assigning definitions to coded categories for documentation purposes and clarity.

Note: The Describe function runs automatically when using Create, but does not activate when using Complete or Apply operations.

Step-by-step guide to using Protobi AI Autocode

1. Getting started

Select the element where you want to apply Protobi AI Autocode.

2. Open Recode (advanced)

Once you've selected the open-end element, choose the Recode (advanced) button in the toolbar.

3. Choose your AI Autocode option

Press the "Autocode with Protobi AI..." button in the lower-right corner. The Autocode dialog will pop up where you can select the type of autocode you want to apply.

Create a new codeframe

1. Initiate the process

   • Select the Create option and click OK in the dialog box.

2. AI analysis & coding

   • The system will automatically:
     • Analyze your responses.
     • Generate a customized code set with relevant categories.
     • Tag responses with the appropriate codes.

3. Review the results

   • Examine the suggested codes and their descriptions for accuracy.

4. Make adjustments (if needed)

   • Edit AI-generated codes and descriptions to match your terminology.
   • Unapply or Delete codes that aren't relevant (this removes them from responses but keeps them in your code set).
   • Create codes manually and Reassign responses more accurate codes as necessary.

Tip: Use this when you're exploring new data without predefined categories.

Complete a partial coding

1. Initiate the process

   • Select the Complete option and click OK in the dialog box.

2. AI analysis & completion

   • The system will automatically:
     • Analyze your partially coded responses.
     • Suggest additional categories to complete your codeframe.
     • Tag uncategorized responses while preserving your existing codes.

3. Review the results

   • Examine both the new and existing codes for consistency.

4. Make adjustments (if needed)

   • Edit AI-generated codes and descriptions to match your terminology.
   • Unapply or Delete codes that aren't relevant (this removes them from responses but keeps them in your code set).
   • Create codes manually and Reassign responses more accurate codes as necessary.

Tip: Use this when you started to manually code the responses but need AI assistance to finish efficiently.

Apply existing codes

1. Initiate the process

   • Select the Apply option and click OK in the dialog box.

2. Automated coding

   • The system will:
     • Strictly use your current codeframe.
     • Tag all responses without modifying or adding categories.

3. Review the results

   • Examine the suggested codes and their descriptions for accuracy.

4. Make adjustments (if needed)

   • Reassign responses more accurate codes as necessary.

Tip: Ideal for projects requiring strict adherence to established codeframe.

Describe existing codes

1. Initiate the process

   • Select the Describe option and click OK in the dialog box.

2. AI analysis & description

   • The system will:
     • Analyze patterns in your coded categories.
     • Generate clear labels and definitions for each coded category.

3. Review the results

   • Evaluate the suggested descriptions for accuracy.

4. Make adjustments (if needed)

   • Edit code descriptions as necessary to meet your expectations.

Tip: Use this to improve documentation before sharing results with stakeholders.

Recode (advanced) user interface:

1. Status indicator

A progress meter and success notification appear in the upper right when Autocode is applied.

2. Code set panel

The panel displays all categories in your codeframe.
You can drag and drop codes from this panel to tag responses.

3. Code management

Edit code names, labels, and detailed descriptions.
You can delete codes or unapply them (this removes tags from all responses without deleting the code).
This flexibility allows you to control how much automation versus manual oversight you want in your analysis.

4. View code descriptions

Hover over codes to view their detailed descriptions (generated by the Describe feature).

5. Remove code tag

Click the × icon on a code tag to remove it from individual responses.

6. Add code tag

Click the + icon on responses to assign codes.

7. Save changes

Click "Save" to apply your changes to the main project.

The advanced recode page offers significantly more editing capabilities. For a comprehensive guide on manually editing and applying codes, refer to the Recode (advanced) tutorial.

With Protobi AI Autocode, you maintain expert oversight while accelerating your analysis. The system combines AI efficiency with human judgment—automating the tedious work of coding open-ends while preserving your ability to refine and validate every result.

If you have any questions or need further help, our support team at support@protobi.com is here to assist.