USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOLS TO STRENGTHEN THE QUALITY, EFFICIENCY AND INTEGRITY OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming part of the everyday work of researchers in higher education. Its value, however, depends less on the novelty of the technology than on how carefully researchers use it. This paper examined how AI tools can support three closely related goals in educational research: improving quality, reducing avoidable time and effort, and protecting research integrity. A PRISMA-informed conceptual review was undertaken using literature and substantive sources published between 2021 and 2026. Attention was given to AI-supported literature discovery, synthesis, data analysis, academic writing, peer review, and research-integrity activities. Tools discussed include Elicit, Consensus, Scite, ResearchRabbit, Semantic Scholar, Grammarly, Paperpal, Trinka AI, and Turnitin's AI-related features. The review suggests that AI can make some research tasks faster and can widen access to scholarly information, particularly for researchers working in resource-constrained settings. At the same time, AI outputs may contain inaccurate claims, incomplete coverage, biased summaries, or fabricated references. These risks become more serious when researchers treat AI output as a substitute for reading, judgement, and methodological verification. In response, the paper proposes the QUERI framework—Quality, Use, Ethics, Rigour, and Integrity—as a practical guide for responsible AI-assisted educational research. The paper argues that Nigerian higher education institutions should move beyond either unrestricted enthusiasm or blanket rejection of AI. Instead, they should build research cultures in which AI is used transparently as an assistant, while responsibility for evidence, interpretation, and scholarly judgement remains with the researchers.