Impact of ChatGPT on Academic Integrity among Youth: Mediating Role of Critical Thinking

Abstract

The study aimed to check the association of ChatGPT use and critical thinking on academic integrity.  The research design is cross-sectional correlational study to collect data from university students aged from 18 to 23 years old. The sample size was 600 students taken via purposive sampling from the University of Gujrat, Pakistan. Standardized psychological scales of ChatGPT usage scale, critical thinking evaluation scale, and academic integrity scales were used. Our findings showed that ChatGPT has no significant effect on academic integrity but has positive effect on critical thinking. While critical thinking has positive effect on academic integrity. It showed that ChatGPT doesn’t directly change cheating behavior, but it can boost critical thinking for students, and that improved critical thinking is what increases academic integrity. Implications of the findings are discussed.