PhD Students’ Perceptions Regarding the Utilization of AI tools in Academic Research Writing
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65405/40btry27الكلمات المفتاحية:
AI (Artificial Intelligence), guidelines, academic writing.الملخص
The new wave of technology has increased the reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) tools in diverse contexts, particularly in academic writing. Postgraduate students increasingly use AI to enhance accuracy and quality in their work, as Ph.D. programs require critical thinking and argumentative writing. Tools such as Grammarly, Perplexity, and Gemini are widely employed for paraphrasing, summarizing, and generating ideas. Yet, ethical guidelines and regulations among Libyan postgraduate students remain unexplored. This paper investigates Libyan Ph.D. students’ perceptions of AI applications to support their academic research writing. Guided by the mixed method approach, the study employed quantitative measures alongside semi-structured interviews with six Ph.D. candidates at the English Department, Benghazi University. The findings revealed growing reliance and acceptance of AI tools among doctoral students. However, the results emphasized students’ concerns regarding ethical use and the lack of institutional regulations. In response, the current paper proposes a framework for responsible AI use in doctoral research, calling for urgent institutional policies, context-specific application, and ethical guidelines. This work contributes to the existing knowledge on AI academic use and highlights the urgent need for a well-established AI integration policy in Libya’s doctoral education system.
التنزيلات
المراجع
Abolkasim, E., &Hasan, M. (2024). Integrating ChatGPT in education and learning: A case study on Libyan universities. Sebha University Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences, 23(2).https://doi.org/10.51984/jopas.v23i2.3082
Akdemir, A. S., &Eyerci, A. (2016).Using writing templates as materials to improve writing skills in EFL classes: An experimental study.Mersin ÜniversitesiEğitimFakültesiDergisi, 12(2).
Alahwal, E., Mansour, L., Al-Ojali, A. J., &Lahwal, F. (2025). Artificial intelligence in higher education in Libya: Opportunities and challenges. Sebha University Conference Proceedings, 4(1).https://doi.org/10.51984/sucp.v4i1.3861
Alazam, N. (2021). The role of artificial intelligence in raising the efficiency of administrative systems for human resources management at the University of Tabuk.المجلة التربوية لکلية التربية بسـوهاج, 84(84), 467–499.* https://doi.org/10.21608/edusohag.2021.148044
Aldabbus, S., &Almansouri, E. (2022). Academic writing difficulties encountered by university EFL learners. British Journal of English Linguistics, 10(3), 1–11.*
Aljoza, A. Y., &Almustafa, I. M. (2024). EFL academic writing challenges among first-year students: Evidence from North and East Syria. TESOL Today, 1(2), 79–90.* https://doi.org/10.53898/tesol2024125
Almasri, F. (2024).Exploring the impact of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning of science: A systematic review of empirical research.Research in Science Education, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-024-10176-3
Alnaqbi, A., & Md. Yassin, A. (2021).Current status, challenges and strategies of artificial intelligence and e-learning in the UAE military education system.International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering and Technology, 12.https://doi.org/10.30880/ijscet.2021.12.03.034
Al-Zahrani, A. M., &Alasmari, T. M. (2024).Exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education: The dynamics of ethical, social, and educational implications.Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11, 912.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03432-4
Alsied, S. M., & Ibrahim, N. W. (2017). Exploring challenges encountered by EFL Libyan learners in research teaching and writing. IAFOR Journal of Language Learning, 3(2), 143–158.
Amani, N., &Bisriyah, M. (2025). University students’ perceptions of AI-assisted writing tools in supporting self-regulated writing practices. Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 10(1), 91–102. https://doi.org/10.21093/ijeltal.v10i1.1942
Argudo Serrano, J. C. (2025). Exploring the challenges faced by EFL learners in developing writing skills: A mixed-methods case study. MQR Investigar: RevistaMultidisciplinaria de InvestigaciónCientífica, 9(2). https://www.investigarmqr.com/2025/index.php/mqr/article/view/440
Author et al., (2025).Investigating technology integration in English language teaching in Libya: A TPACK framework perspective.In Y. Omar (Ed.), Educational studies and issues in teaching and learning English as a foreign language at Libyan settings (pp. 7–36).Democratic Arab Center for Strategic, Political & Economic Studies.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006).Using thematic analysis in psychology.Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Bulqiyah, S., Mahbub, M. A., &Nugraheni, D. A. (2021).Investigating writing difficulties in essay writing: Tertiary students’ perspectives.English Language Teaching Educational Journal, 4(1), 61–73.https://doi.org/10.12928/eltej.v4i1.2371
Civil, B. (2023, March 16). ChatGPT can hinder students’ critical thinking skills: Artificial intelligence is changing how students learn to write. The Queen’s Journal.https://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2023-03-16/opinions/chatgpt-can-hinder-students-critical-thinking-skills
Cohen, D., & Crabtree, B. (2006).Qualitative research guidelines project.Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.http://www.qualres.org/
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018).Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Dale, R. (2020). Natural language generation: The commercial state of the art in 2020. Natural Language Engineering, 26(4), 481–487.https://doi.org/10.1017/S135132492000025X
Dweni, D. K. (2023). Challenges encountered by Libyan EFL undergraduate students in English research writing. Scientific Journal of Faculty of Education, Misurata University, 9(21), 312.
Elsherif, E. (2025). Utilizing Grammarly as an AI-powered automated writing checker: Libyan EFL student-teachers’ perceptions. Al Asala Journal, 5(11), 54–55.
Farahat, A. (2022). Elements of academic integrity in a cross-cultural Middle Eastern educational system: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan case study. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 18, 1–18.
Fitria, T. N. (2021). Grammarly as AI-powered English writing assistant: Students’ alternative for writing English. The Journal of English Language and Literature, 5, 65–78.https://doi.org/10.31002/metathesis.v5i1.3519
Golan, R., Reddy, R., Muthigi, A., &Ramasamy, R. (2023). Artificial intelligence in academic writing: A paradigm-shifting technological advance. Nature Reviews Urology, 20(6), 327–328.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-023-00746-x
Hadia, G. (2023). Improving the academic writing essays of EFL Libyan students: Observational case study on the Faculty of Languages and Translation at Al-Zytuna University.BaniWaleed University Journal of Humanities and Applied Sciences, 8(2), 612–630.
Halaweh, M. (2023).ChatGPT in education: Strategies for responsible implementation. Contemporary Educational Technology, 15(2).https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/13036
Haroon, A., &Hussian, N.(2025). Investigating AI governance in higher education: Policy recommendations for the University of Benghazi based on international best practices. In Y. Omar (Ed.), Educational studies and issues in teaching and learning English as a foreign language at Libyan settings (pp. 37–71).Democratic Arab Center for Strategic, Political & Economic Studies.
Hermann, E. (2022). Artificial intelligence and mass personalization of communication content, An ethical and literacy perspective. New Media & Society, 24(5), 1258–1277.https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448211022702
Hmouma, M. A. (2025). Exploring Libyan EFL undergraduates’ attitudes towards AI-driven English learning applications.University of Zawia Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences, 13(2).https://journals.zu.edu.ly/index.php/UZJEPS/article/view/1064
Jamshed, M., Alam, I., Sultan, S., & Corresponding. (2024). Using artificial intelligence for English language learning: Saudi EFL learners’ opinions, attitudes and challenges. Journal of Education and e-Learning Research, 11, 135–141. https://doi.org/10.20448/jeelr.v11i1.5397
Kumar, R. (2014). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Kurniati, E. Y., &Fithriani, R. (2022).Post-graduate students’ perceptions of Quillbot utilization in English academic writing class.Journal of English Language Teaching and Linguistics, 7(3), 437–451.https://doi.org/10.21462/jeltl.v7i3.852
Lakshmi, K., Khan, S., Kumar, P. A., Wagh, V., &Vasanti, G. (2024). AI-powered learning analytics: Transforming educational outcomes through ICT integration. Library of Progress—Library Science, Information Technology & Computer, 44(3), 17910.https://openurl.ebsco.com/contentitem/gcd:180918834?sid=ebsco:plink:crawler&id=ebsco:gcd:180918834
Letsoela, P. M., &Matlosa, L. (2022).Lexical semantic errors in undergraduate students’ academic writing.FOSTER: Journal of English Language Teaching, 3(3), 172–184.
Macias Loor, M. A., AlcivarSolorzano, D. M., & Vera Moreira, A. K. (2024).Integration of artificial intelligence in English teaching.CID – Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo.https://doi.org/10.37811/cli_w1046
Magaldi, D., &Berler, M. (2020).Semi-structured interviews.In V. Zeigler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of personality and individual differences (pp. 4825–4830).Springer.
Milad, R. M., Almalul, R. M., &Lawej, A. I. (2021). Academic writing difficulties faced by Libyan EFL undergraduates at Elmergib University. International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Literature, 9(11), 15–24.
Mohamad, M. (2022).Role of artificial intelligence in raising the efficiency of administrative systems for human resource management in Egypt.ResearchGate.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358719922
Mohsen, A.-H.S. (2025).Artificial intelligence in educational institutions with some cases from Libya.Faculty of Arts Journal, 41, 21–43.
Monika, M., Divyavarsini, V., &Suganthan, C. (2023). A survey on analyzing the effectiveness of AI tools among research scholars in academic writing and publishing. International Journal of Advance Research and Innovative Ideas in Education, 9(6), 1293–2147.https://www.ijariie.com
Nakazawa, E., Udagawa, M., &Akabayashi, A. (2022). Does the use of AI to create academic research papers undermine researcher originality? AI, 3(3), 702–706.https://doi.org/10.3390/ai3030040
Nasser, S. M. (2018). Iraqi EFL students’ difficulties in writing composition: An experimental study. International Journal of Linguistics, 9(1), 178–184.https://doi.org/10.5539/ijel.v9n1p178
Negoiță, O. D., &Popescu, M. A. M. (2023).The use of artificial intelligence in education.In Proceedings of the International Conference of Management and Industrial Engineering (p. 43).https://doi.org/10.56177/11icmie2023.43
Nwozor, A. (2025). Artificial intelligence (AI) and academic honesty–dishonesty nexus: Trends and preventive measures. In AI and ethics, academic integrity and the future of quality assurance in higher education (p. 27).
Palkeer, N. A., &Farhat, Z. (2022).The interference of technology with the spelling proficiency of EFL learners: An empirical study. In M. Hamli& A. Nwesri (Eds.), Activating educational technology and smart teaching and learning in higher education (pp. 111-130).Proceedings of the 1st Conference of the English Department, Faculty of Arts, Tripoli, Libya.
Selvi, B. (2024). The role of generative artificial intelligence tools in enhancing academic writing. Social Paradigm: An International Journal of Social Sciences, 8(1), 22–56.
Shrif, S., &Jamoum, M. (2025). The future of education in Libya: Weighing the pros and cons of AI integration. Alqalam Journal of Medical and Applied Sciences, 8(2), 1092–1099.https://doi.org/10.54361/ajmas.258286
Storey, V. (2023). AI technology and academic writing: Knowing and mastering the “craft skills.” International Journal of Adult Education and Technology, 14(1), 1–15.https://doi.org/10.4018/ijaet.325795
Verma, P. (2023). The role of English in academic writing: Strategies for non-native speakers. Journal of International English Research Studies, 1(1), 35–40.
Zhai, X., Chu, X., Chai, C. S., Jong, M. S. Y., Istenic, A., Spector, M., Liu, J.-B., Yuan, J., & Li, Y. (2021). A review of artificial intelligence (AI) in education from 2010 to 2020.Complexity, 2021(1), Article 6653594.
التنزيلات
منشور
إصدار
القسم
الرخصة
الحقوق الفكرية (c) 2026 مجلة العلوم الشاملة

هذا العمل مرخص بموجب Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.









