Exploring Graduate Students' Scholarly Agency in ChatGPT-Assisted Research: A Social Cognitive Perspective

This study applies Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory to explore how graduate students perceive scholarly agency—creativity, ethics, and self-efficacy—in ChatGPT-assisted research. Using descriptive statistics, survey data from Aligarh Muslim University master's and doctoral students was examined. The findings show responsible scholarship through strong self-efficacy, ethical awareness, and creative GenAI use. The paper urges institutions globally to adapt integrity policies for evolving AI use, highlighting global implications for higher education assessment beyond the local environment.