AI CHATBOTS IN ACADEMIC RESEARCH: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF INDIAN STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots are being used in higher education, enabling students to access information, writing assistance, and instant explanations of concepts. The current research, “AI Chatbots in Academic Research: A Qualitative Exploration of Indian Students' Perspectives,” examines Indian students' perceptions and use of AI chatbots in their academic research, particularly those from West Bengal. A qualitative research approach has been adopted, and the data have been collected from 180 students through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis has been used as the data analysis technique, following the six steps proposed by Braun and Clarke (2006). The research findings suggest that students perceive AI chatbots as efficient, easily accessible, and empowering tools that help them reduce research-related stress and boost their confidence. AI chatbots are helpful for literature searches, idea generation, and improving the quality of write-ups, thereby empowering students academically. However, the students have also expressed concerns about accuracy, plagiarism, and dependence on AI chatbots, thereby offering a balanced view of the benefits and drawbacks of these tools. This study has also highlighted the impact of contextual factors, such as institutional support, socio-economic factors, and policy issues, on perceptions and use of AI chatbots, thereby revealing disparities in their use and benefits. Most importantly, the research has highlighted the need to develop guidelines, teacher training, and institutional policies for the use of AI chatbots in academic research. Study concludes that AI chatbots have significant potential to promote scholarly research among Indian students, but their use requires awareness, support, and critical understanding.

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