Doctoral students’ reflections on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) use in the literature review process

Amidst discussions about the use of Generative AI (GenAI) for academic research, their potential for doctoral research or literature reviews is an area beginning to be explored. This qualitative study explores doctoral students' perceptions of the value of GenAI tools in the literature review process. The analysis of 26 participants' reflections on their exploration of three GenAI technologies revealed benefits and challenges for the literature review process. Participants highlighted the potential of these tools as complementary to traditional database searches presuming users possess prior information literacy and research skills. They also perceived several challenges such as inaccuracies, usability and privacy and emphasised the importance and indispensability of a human review. This study highlights the need for guidance and strategies for doctoral students on the appropriate and ethical integration of GenAI in literature reviews.