‘A rather stupid but always available brainstorming partner’: use and understanding of Generative AI by UK postgraduate researchers
‘A rather stupid but always available brainstorming partner’: use and understanding of Generative AI by UK postgraduate researchers
Research into the increased use of Generative AI in Higher Education has largely focused on undergraduate study. While many institutions are grappling with the implications for doctoral level, there has been little published work investigating how postgraduate researchers use the technology or their attitudes towards it. This paper is based on a survey of 75 doctoral candidates across 19 UK Higher Education Institutions. The results show that most respondents had used Generative AI for their doctoral research, with the most common uses being framed as time-saver, editor or colleague. There was an awareness of limitations and ethical issues connected to the use of AI but no agreement as to where those boundaries lie. The paper concludes that there is an urgent need for sector agreement and communication on acceptable use and best practice.
Generative AI, doctoral study, postgraduate research
1-15
English, Ross
e2dade43-4f13-4533-b1a9-7501e1971d89
Nash, Rebecca
80b466f6-c138-4256-96d7-57d812111b2f
Mackenzie, Heather
e1e524b1-b525-4da4-a7d3-d0bb359f4680
2 January 2025
English, Ross
e2dade43-4f13-4533-b1a9-7501e1971d89
Nash, Rebecca
80b466f6-c138-4256-96d7-57d812111b2f
Mackenzie, Heather
e1e524b1-b525-4da4-a7d3-d0bb359f4680
English, Ross, Nash, Rebecca and Mackenzie, Heather
(2025)
‘A rather stupid but always available brainstorming partner’: use and understanding of Generative AI by UK postgraduate researchers.
Innovations in Education and Teaching International, .
(doi:10.1080/14703297.2024.2446236).
Abstract
Research into the increased use of Generative AI in Higher Education has largely focused on undergraduate study. While many institutions are grappling with the implications for doctoral level, there has been little published work investigating how postgraduate researchers use the technology or their attitudes towards it. This paper is based on a survey of 75 doctoral candidates across 19 UK Higher Education Institutions. The results show that most respondents had used Generative AI for their doctoral research, with the most common uses being framed as time-saver, editor or colleague. There was an awareness of limitations and ethical issues connected to the use of AI but no agreement as to where those boundaries lie. The paper concludes that there is an urgent need for sector agreement and communication on acceptable use and best practice.
Text
A rather stupid but always available brainstorming partner Use and understanding of Generative AI by UK postgraduate researchers
- Version of Record
More information
e-pub ahead of print date: 2 January 2025
Published date: 2 January 2025
Additional Information:
Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords:
Generative AI, doctoral study, postgraduate research
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 497475
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/497475
ISSN: 1470-3297
PURE UUID: a55d093d-43a4-4776-ad86-47b863deeab0
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 23 Jan 2025 17:41
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:38
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Ross English
Author:
Rebecca Nash
Author:
Heather Mackenzie
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics