View in EDS

Acceptance and Use of Artificial Intelligence for Self-Directed Research Learning among Postgraduate Students in Nigerian Public Universities

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Acceptance and Use of Artificial Intelligence for Self-Directed Research Learning among Postgraduate Students in Nigerian Public Universities
Language: English
Authors: Valentine Joseph Owan, Chinedu Ositadimma Chukwu, Victor Ubugha Agama, Tina Joseph Owan, Joseph Ojishe Ogar, Imoke John Etorti
Source: Discover Education. 2025 4.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 20
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Artificial Intelligence, Technology Uses in Education, Independent Study, Student Research, Graduate Students, Foreign Countries, Student Attitudes, Technology Integration, Adoption (Ideas), Educational Technology, Use Studies, Barriers, Technological Literacy
Geographic Terms: Nigeria
DOI: 10.1007/s44217-025-00770-6
ISSN: 2731-5525
Abstract: Research competence is a cornerstone of postgraduate education, yet many Nigerian students continue to struggle with essential processes such as literature review, methodological design, and data analysis. While artificial intelligence (AI) holds considerable promise in supporting self-directed research learning (SDRL), its adoption and practical use among postgraduate students in Nigeria remain underexplored. This study addresses that gap by investigating both the acceptance and use of AI tools for SDRL among postgraduate students in Nigerian public universities. Adopting a predictive correlational design, data were collected from 456 students across two institutions using stratified random sampling. Two validated instruments (10-item scales; [alpha] = 0.85 and [alpha] = 0.87) were administered both physically and digitally to assess students' acceptance of AI and their actual use of AI for SDRL. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were used to analyse patterns and predict usage based on acceptance. Findings revealed a high level of AI acceptance (M = 3.30/4.00), yet a considerably lower level of actual AI usage (M = 2.26/4.00) for self-directed research learning. A weak but statistically significant relationship was observed between acceptance and use of AI for self-directed research learning (R[superscript 2] = 0.01, [beta] = 0.11, p < 0.05), suggesting that acceptance alone does not translate into meaningful engagement. These results highlight a pressing need to move beyond enthusiasm and address practical barriers to AI usage for self-directed research learning, such as limited training opportunities, inadequate mentorship, and infrastructural constraints. Targeted institutional interventions aimed at building AI literacy and integrating AI tools into research support systems could bridge this gap, thereby strengthening postgraduate research capacity and improving learning outcomes in Nigerian higher education.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1482251
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1482251
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Acceptance and Use of Artificial Intelligence for Self-Directed Research Learning among Postgraduate Students in Nigerian Public Universities
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Valentine+Joseph+Owan%22&quot;&gt;Valentine Joseph Owan&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Chinedu+Ositadimma+Chukwu%22&quot;&gt;Chinedu Ositadimma Chukwu&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Victor+Ubugha+Agama%22&quot;&gt;Victor Ubugha Agama&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Tina+Joseph+Owan%22&quot;&gt;Tina Joseph Owan&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Joseph+Ojishe+Ogar%22&quot;&gt;Joseph Ojishe Ogar&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Imoke+John+Etorti%22&quot;&gt;Imoke John Etorti&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;SO&quot; term=&quot;%22Discover+Education%22&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;Discover Education&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/searchLink&gt;. 2025 4.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 20
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles&lt;br /&gt;Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;EL&quot; term=&quot;%22Higher+Education%22&quot;&gt;Higher Education&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;EL&quot; term=&quot;%22Postsecondary+Education%22&quot;&gt;Postsecondary Education&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Artificial+Intelligence%22&quot;&gt;Artificial Intelligence&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22&quot;&gt;Technology Uses in Education&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Independent+Study%22&quot;&gt;Independent Study&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Student+Research%22&quot;&gt;Student Research&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Graduate+Students%22&quot;&gt;Graduate Students&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Foreign+Countries%22&quot;&gt;Foreign Countries&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Student+Attitudes%22&quot;&gt;Student Attitudes&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Technology+Integration%22&quot;&gt;Technology Integration&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Adoption+%28Ideas%29%22&quot;&gt;Adoption (Ideas)&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Educational+Technology%22&quot;&gt;Educational Technology&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Use+Studies%22&quot;&gt;Use Studies&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Barriers%22&quot;&gt;Barriers&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Technological+Literacy%22&quot;&gt;Technological Literacy&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Nigeria%22&quot;&gt;Nigeria&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1007/s44217-025-00770-6
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2731-5525
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Research competence is a cornerstone of postgraduate education, yet many Nigerian students continue to struggle with essential processes such as literature review, methodological design, and data analysis. While artificial intelligence (AI) holds considerable promise in supporting self-directed research learning (SDRL), its adoption and practical use among postgraduate students in Nigeria remain underexplored. This study addresses that gap by investigating both the acceptance and use of AI tools for SDRL among postgraduate students in Nigerian public universities. Adopting a predictive correlational design, data were collected from 456 students across two institutions using stratified random sampling. Two validated instruments (10-item scales; [alpha] = 0.85 and [alpha] = 0.87) were administered both physically and digitally to assess students&#39; acceptance of AI and their actual use of AI for SDRL. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were used to analyse patterns and predict usage based on acceptance. Findings revealed a high level of AI acceptance (M = 3.30/4.00), yet a considerably lower level of actual AI usage (M = 2.26/4.00) for self-directed research learning. A weak but statistically significant relationship was observed between acceptance and use of AI for self-directed research learning (R[superscript 2] = 0.01, [beta] = 0.11, p &lt; 0.05), suggesting that acceptance alone does not translate into meaningful engagement. These results highlight a pressing need to move beyond enthusiasm and address practical barriers to AI usage for self-directed research learning, such as limited training opportunities, inadequate mentorship, and infrastructural constraints. Targeted institutional interventions aimed at building AI literacy and integrating AI tools into research support systems could bridge this gap, thereby strengthening postgraduate research capacity and improving learning outcomes in Nigerian higher education.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1482251
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1482251
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s44217-025-00770-6
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 20
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Artificial Intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Uses in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Independent Study
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Integration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adoption (Ideas)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Use Studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technological Literacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nigeria
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Acceptance and Use of Artificial Intelligence for Self-Directed Research Learning among Postgraduate Students in Nigerian Public Universities
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Valentine Joseph Owan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Chinedu Ositadimma Chukwu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Victor Ubugha Agama
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Tina Joseph Owan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Joseph Ojishe Ogar
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Imoke John Etorti
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2731-5525
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Discover Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1