Dissertation 2.0

An Action Research Study on Adapting with AI

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2025.468

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence (AI), dissertations, doctoral students, ethics, higher education

Abstract

Universal guidelines for AI’s use in the context of higher education remains unestablished. Despite this, doctoral students utilized AI to help in forming research ideas and with editing manuscripts. Thereby, the socialization of doctoral students into ethical AI use became imperative. This action research study had faculty and EdD students test AI tools to then make recommendations for guidelines on AI use for dissertation writing. Results showed AI use needed to be made clear and transparent alongside adopting a flexible approach to AI incorporation, given factors such as differing journal requirements. Furthermore, as doctoral students constituted novice researchers, they needed to realize that they would be responsible for AI’s output. Keeping the doctoral identity at the forefront was core to advising doctoral students into the new era of responsible research. 

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Published

2025-02-07

How to Cite

Grichko, V., Schamber, B., Hall, S., Termansen, K., Swank, D., Barker, D., & Lehmann, E. (2025). Dissertation 2.0: An Action Research Study on Adapting with AI. Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice, 10(1), 33–41. https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2025.468

Issue

Section

Themed-The Role of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Doctoral Research and Writing