Cited by 18Academic integrity and plagiarismArtificial Intelligence in EducationEthics and Social Impacts of AI

AI-assisted academic cheating: a conceptual model based on postgraduate student voices

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Hanh, Nguyen Van, Duyen, Nguyen Thi·2025·Frontiers in Computer Science

Abstract

Introduction As AI tools become more widely used in higher education, concerns about AI-assisted academic cheating are growing. This study examines how postgraduate students interpret these behaviors. Methods We conducted an exploratory qualitative study. We analyzed ten ten course-embedded reflective essays using conventional content analysis and identified 159 meaning units, 34 codes, 12 categories, and 6 themes. Results Students described two main forms of AI-assisted cheating: misusing AI to complete academic tasks and improperly using AI-generated content. They attributed these behaviors to work pressure, ethical ambiguity, AI affordances, and gaps in institutional policies. They also proposed solutions, including clearer guidelines, improved assessment design, and stronger ethics education. Discussion The findings show that students construct their views on AI-assisted cheating within social, technological, and institutional contexts. Strengthening policy clarity and promoting a culture of ethical AI use can help institutions address these emerging challenges.

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Integrity signals

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Crossref · 10.3389/fcomp.2025.1682190

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  • Geographic diversity across Global North and South contexts strengthens external validity.

    “Geographic diversity across Global North and South contexts strengthens external validity (Hanh and Duyen, 2025; Jeilani and Abubakar, 2025; Khlaif et al., 2025).”

    From Reimagining writing assessment for the AI era: a systematic review on balancing AI support and authentic skill growth (2026) · cites this paper as Hanh and Duyen, 2025

    Section 3.6 (Limitations; page unavailable) says the study drew on a single postgraduate cohort, limiting diversity, and that its findings should not be treated as generalizable. Section 3.2 (Research design; page unavailable) likewise says its aim was not to generate generalizable claims. This paper therefore does not provide the claimed geographic diversity or resulting external validity, though the other cited studies are not assessed here. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Institutional responses remain reactive and piecemeal, framing AI primarily as an integrity issue requiring policing rather than a pedagogical opportunity requiring curriculum redesign.

    “Institutional responses remain reactive and piecemeal, framing AI primarily as an integrity issue requiring policing rather than a pedagogical opportunity requiring curriculum redesign (Gonsalves, 2025; Hanh and Duyen, 2025).”

    From Reimagining writing assessment for the AI era: a systematic review on balancing AI support and authentic skill growth (2026) · cites this paper as Hanh and Duyen, 2025

    Section 4.2.2 describes absent AI-use policies and limited faculty guidance, while section 5.2 describes a policy vacuum and implementation lag. Section 5.2 also calls for a shift from enforcement to ethical empowerment and discusses curricular integration and assessment redesign. The paper does not establish that existing institutional responses are primarily policing-oriented or piecemeal rather than pedagogical. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • Substantial evidence relies on convenience sampling and self-reported data, introducing potential social desirability bias regarding misconduct behaviors.

    “but substantial evidence relies on convenience sampling and self-reported data introducing potential social desirability bias regarding misconduct behaviors (Amani and Bisriyah, 2025; Hanh and Duyen, 2025; Karkoulian et al., 2025).”

    From Reimagining writing assessment for the AI era: a systematic review on balancing AI support and authentic skill growth (2026) · cites this paper as Hanh and Duyen, 2025

    Section 2.3 reports that students concealed AI-assisted cheating when asked directly and that anonymous methods produced higher admission rates, supporting the concern about social desirability bias. Sections 3.2 and 3.6 describe this study's data as reflective essays from one postgraduate cohort, but the paper does not establish that a substantial body of evidence relies on convenience sampling and self-reported misconduct behaviors. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • Students operating under intense time constraints, managing multiple competing obligations, and facing high-stakes assessment systems make pragmatic decisions where immediate survival needs override abstract commitments to long-term skill development.

    “Students operating under intense time constraints, managing multiple competing obligations, and facing high-stakes assessment systems make pragmatic decisions where immediate survival needs override abstract commitments to long-term skill development (Hanh and Duyen, 2025; Peterson, 2025).”

    From Reimagining writing assessment for the AI era: a systematic review on balancing AI support and authentic skill growth (2026) · cites this paper as Hanh and Duyen, 2025

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  • Undergraduates prioritize efficiency and accessibility, while postgraduates express ethical ambiguity and concerns about voice erosion despite recognizing benefits for lexical diversity.

    “Undergraduates prioritize efficiency and accessibility, while postgraduates express ethical ambiguity and concerns about voice erosion despite recognizing benefits for lexical diversity (Hanh and Duyen, 2025; Shi et al., 2025).”

    From Reimagining writing assessment for the AI era: a systematic review on balancing AI support and authentic skill growth (2026) · cites this paper as Hanh and Duyen, 2025

    Section 5.1.1 reports ethical ambiguity among the postgraduate students studied. Section 5.1.2 says those students highlighted AI’s efficiency and accessibility; it does not establish that undergraduates prioritize them. The passages found do not report postgraduate concerns about voice erosion or benefits for lexical diversity, and the study does not make the claimed undergraduate–postgraduate comparison. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Abd-Elaal, E.-S., Gamage, S. H., and Mills, J. E.. (2019). Artificial intelligence is a tool for cheating academic integrity. 30th Annual Conference for the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE 2019): Educators Becoming Agents of Change: Innovate, Integrate, Motivate, 397-403.
  2. Asmarita, D., Muyassaroh, I. K., and Saptaputra, I.. (2024). Causality of the artificial intelligence paradigm on constructivist perspective for student academic ethics. Proceeding International Conference on Religion, Science and Education, 3, 993-1004.
  3. Creswell, J. W., and Poth, C. N. (2016). Qualitative inquiry and research design: choosing among five approaches: 4th edition. Thousand Oaks, California, US: Sage publications.
  4. Verbeek, P.-P. (2005). What things do: Philosophical reflections on technology, agency, and design. Pennsylvania: Penn State Press.

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Authors
Hanh, N. V., & Duyen, N. T.
Affiliations
Trường Đại học Khoa học và Công nghệ Hà Nội (VN)
Corresponding author
Hanh, Nguyen Van
Venue
Frontiers in Computer Science
Published
2025-11-26
Volume
7
ISSN
2624-9898 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4416729346
Cited by
12
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 1
FWCI
12.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Computer Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Trường Đại học Bách Khoa Hà Nội
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Academic integrity and plagiarism
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Artificial Intelligence in Education
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
Keywords
generative AI in higher education, graduate students, student perceptions, AI affordances, academic integrity, moral ambiguity, institutional policy, assessment design, ethics education, occupational stress

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