Adoption of AI writing tools among academic researchers: A Theory of Reasoned Action approach.

This research explores the determinants affecting academic researchers' acceptance of AI writing tools using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). The impact of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived barriers on researchers' intentions to adopt these technologies is examined through a c...

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Main Authors: Mohammed A Al-Bukhrani, Yasser Mohammed Hamid Alrefaee, Mohammed Tawfik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313837
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author Mohammed A Al-Bukhrani
Yasser Mohammed Hamid Alrefaee
Mohammed Tawfik
author_facet Mohammed A Al-Bukhrani
Yasser Mohammed Hamid Alrefaee
Mohammed Tawfik
author_sort Mohammed A Al-Bukhrani
collection DOAJ
description This research explores the determinants affecting academic researchers' acceptance of AI writing tools using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). The impact of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived barriers on researchers' intentions to adopt these technologies is examined through a cross-sectional survey of 150 researchers. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is employed to evaluate the measurement and structural models. Findings confirm the positive influence of favorable attitudes and subjective norms on intentions to use AI writing tools. Interestingly, perceived barriers did not significantly impact attitudes or intentions, suggesting that in the academic context, potential benefits may outweigh perceived obstacles to AI writing tool adoption. Contrarily, perceived barriers do not significantly affect attitudes and intentions directly. The TRA model demonstrates considerable explanatory and predictive capabilities, indicating its effectiveness in understanding AI writing tool adoption among researchers. The study's diverse sample across various disciplines and career stages provides insights that may be generalizable to similar academic contexts, though further research with larger samples is needed to confirm broader applicability. Results offer practical guidance for tool developers, academic institutions, and publishers aiming to foster responsible and efficient AI writing tool use in academia. Findings suggest strategies such as demonstrating clear productivity gains, establishing AI Writing Tool programs, and developing comprehensive training initiatives could promote responsible adoption. Strategies focusing on cultivating positive attitudes, leveraging social influence, and addressing perceived barriers could be particularly effective in promoting adoption. This pioneering study investigates researchers' acceptance of AI writing tools using a technology acceptance model, contributing to the understanding of technology adoption in professional contexts and highlighting the importance of field-specific factors in examining adoption intentions and behaviors.
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spelling doaj-art-0a7f173c979b4331bfc725066e241ad22025-08-20T02:59:45ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031383710.1371/journal.pone.0313837Adoption of AI writing tools among academic researchers: A Theory of Reasoned Action approach.Mohammed A Al-BukhraniYasser Mohammed Hamid AlrefaeeMohammed TawfikThis research explores the determinants affecting academic researchers' acceptance of AI writing tools using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). The impact of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived barriers on researchers' intentions to adopt these technologies is examined through a cross-sectional survey of 150 researchers. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is employed to evaluate the measurement and structural models. Findings confirm the positive influence of favorable attitudes and subjective norms on intentions to use AI writing tools. Interestingly, perceived barriers did not significantly impact attitudes or intentions, suggesting that in the academic context, potential benefits may outweigh perceived obstacles to AI writing tool adoption. Contrarily, perceived barriers do not significantly affect attitudes and intentions directly. The TRA model demonstrates considerable explanatory and predictive capabilities, indicating its effectiveness in understanding AI writing tool adoption among researchers. The study's diverse sample across various disciplines and career stages provides insights that may be generalizable to similar academic contexts, though further research with larger samples is needed to confirm broader applicability. Results offer practical guidance for tool developers, academic institutions, and publishers aiming to foster responsible and efficient AI writing tool use in academia. Findings suggest strategies such as demonstrating clear productivity gains, establishing AI Writing Tool programs, and developing comprehensive training initiatives could promote responsible adoption. Strategies focusing on cultivating positive attitudes, leveraging social influence, and addressing perceived barriers could be particularly effective in promoting adoption. This pioneering study investigates researchers' acceptance of AI writing tools using a technology acceptance model, contributing to the understanding of technology adoption in professional contexts and highlighting the importance of field-specific factors in examining adoption intentions and behaviors.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313837
spellingShingle Mohammed A Al-Bukhrani
Yasser Mohammed Hamid Alrefaee
Mohammed Tawfik
Adoption of AI writing tools among academic researchers: A Theory of Reasoned Action approach.
PLoS ONE
title Adoption of AI writing tools among academic researchers: A Theory of Reasoned Action approach.
title_full Adoption of AI writing tools among academic researchers: A Theory of Reasoned Action approach.
title_fullStr Adoption of AI writing tools among academic researchers: A Theory of Reasoned Action approach.
title_full_unstemmed Adoption of AI writing tools among academic researchers: A Theory of Reasoned Action approach.
title_short Adoption of AI writing tools among academic researchers: A Theory of Reasoned Action approach.
title_sort adoption of ai writing tools among academic researchers a theory of reasoned action approach
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313837
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AT mohammedtawfik adoptionofaiwritingtoolsamongacademicresearchersatheoryofreasonedactionapproach