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Researchers from the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies have published research examining graduate students’ attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and their reported use of ChatGPT in higher education environments. The article, “Relationship between Students’ Attitudes toward Artificial Intelligence (AI) and their usage of AI Chatbots,” appears in the International Journal of AI in Pedagogy, Innovation, and Learning Futures.
The quantitative study explored how doctoral students perceive AI chatbots in relation to academic integrity, ethics and educational value. Researchers surveyed 54 doctoral students enrolled at a private, online university in the United States to better understand how attitudes toward AI tools may influence reported usage patterns.
The findings suggest that favorable attitudes toward AI chatbot use, perceptions that chatbot-generated results are superior and disagreement with prohibiting chatbot use were positively correlated with reported ChatGPT usage frequency. Researchers also found significant differences across fields of study, while no statistically significant gender differences were observed.
Key findings from the study include:
Students with more favorable perceptions of AI chatbot use reported more frequent ChatGPT usage.
Students who viewed chatbot-generated responses as superior also reported higher levels of chatbot use.
Significant differences in attitudes toward AI chatbots were identified across academic disciplines.
No statistically significant gender differences were observed in attitudes toward AI chatbots.
Findings support the need for discipline-sensitive institutional guidance and policies regarding ethical AI use in higher education.
“AI is rapidly reshaping how students approach research, writing and learning,” said Suchitra Veera, DBA, faculty member in the University of Phoenix College of Business and Information Technology and lead author of the study. “Our research findings suggest that institutions should develop clear, discipline-sensitive guidance that supports ethical AI use while preserving academic integrity.”
Members of the research team also presented the study at the 2025 Knowledge Without Boundaries Conference hosted by University of Phoenix.
More information
Suchitra Veera et al, Relationship between Students’ Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence (AI) and their usage of AI Chatbots, International Journal of AI in Pedagogy, Innovation, and Learning Futures (2026). DOI: 10.46787/ijaipil.v2026i1.6968
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Examining doctoral students’ attitudes toward AI chatbots and ChatGPT use in higher education (2026, June 9)
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