Student Perspectives on Using Generative Artificial Intelligence for Research: A Qualitative Approach

Abstract

This study examined undergraduate students’ use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) for research assignments and its intersection with traditional library databases. Semi-structured interviews with 16 students revealed GAI is primarily used for grammar, summarizing, brainstorming, and locating sources. While students value GAI for efficiency, they express concerns about accuracy and plagiarism, highlighting a need for guidance on prompt crafting and source evaluation. Participants reported difficulty locating scholarly articles with GAI, preferring library databases for this task. The study suggests librarians can play a crucial role in providing GAI literacy instruction, including teaching effective prompt engineering for database searching, thereby supporting student research strategies.