Research Integrity in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Research Integrity in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence
Language: English
Authors: Andrea Wilson (ORCID 0000-0002-1471-654X), Cheryl Burleigh (ORCID 0000-0003-2393-5477)
Source: Journal of Educational Research and Practice. 2025 15.
Availability: Walden University, LLC. 100 Washington Avenue South Suite 900, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Tel: 800-925-3368; Fax: 612-338-5092; e-mail: JERAP@waldenu.edu; Web site: http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/jerap
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Software, Technology Integration, Accuracy, Likert Scales, Academic Standards, Difficulty Level, Faculty Publishing, Publish or Perish Issue, Integrity, Higher Education, Research, College Faculty, Questioning Techniques, Ethics, Scholarship
ISSN: 2167-8693
Abstract: Protecting research integrity is crucial for maintaining trust in the scholarly record. Historically, threats to research integrity stemmed from deliberate human actions, such as data manipulation and misrepresentation. Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is increasingly prevalent in higher education and is capable of generating research data and scholarly papers almost instantly. The immediate production of research data challenges traditional standards of academic rigor and integrity. The purpose of this study was to explore the role and impact of GAI on research integrity and the scholarly record, emphasizing the need for robust safeguards. For this study, we submitted Likert-type survey questions to GAI, specifically ChatGPT, and investigated how ChatGPT responded to the questions and generated quantitative and mixed-methods data that could be presented as human study participant responses. As GAI evolves, the academic community must address its potential misuse, particularly in research institutions where the pressure to "publish or perish" is pervasive. In the age of GAI, ensuring the accuracy and honesty of the scholarly record is imperative for the credibility of innovative and impactful research. Findings indicate that data integrity in higher education research may be at risk if institutions do not establish clear, enforceable guidelines and policies to mitigate the potential misuse of GAI.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1473719
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Protecting research integrity is crucial for maintaining trust in the scholarly record. Historically, threats to research integrity stemmed from deliberate human actions, such as data manipulation and misrepresentation. Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is increasingly prevalent in higher education and is capable of generating research data and scholarly papers almost instantly. The immediate production of research data challenges traditional standards of academic rigor and integrity. The purpose of this study was to explore the role and impact of GAI on research integrity and the scholarly record, emphasizing the need for robust safeguards. For this study, we submitted Likert-type survey questions to GAI, specifically ChatGPT, and investigated how ChatGPT responded to the questions and generated quantitative and mixed-methods data that could be presented as human study participant responses. As GAI evolves, the academic community must address its potential misuse, particularly in research institutions where the pressure to "publish or perish" is pervasive. In the age of GAI, ensuring the accuracy and honesty of the scholarly record is imperative for the credibility of innovative and impactful research. Findings indicate that data integrity in higher education research may be at risk if institutions do not establish clear, enforceable guidelines and policies to mitigate the potential misuse of GAI.
ISSN:2167-8693