AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOLS FOR ENHANCED RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY AMONG POLYTECHNICS ACADEMICS IN NIGER STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the awareness and utilization of generative artificial intelligence tools among Polytechnic academics in Niger State to enhance research productivity. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have allowed educators and scholars to improve their productivity and efficiency in academic research. The research employed a descriptive survey design. The study population comprised one thousand three hundred five (1305) academics from two polytechnics in Niger State. The study utilized a sample size of three hundred ninety-one (391) participants, employing a stratified simple random sampling technique. The data collection tool was a questionnaire created by the researchers and validated by three research specialists. The Cronbach Alpha coefficient was employed to assess the instrument's reliability, yielding a coefficient of 0.81. Out of the three hundred ninety-one (391) copies of the disseminated questionnaire, two hundred and seventy-six (276) were collected and utilized for data analysis. The mean and standard deviation were employed to analyze the research questions, while t-test statistic was used to analyze the hypotheses at a significance level of 0.05. The study's findings indicated moderate awareness and utilization of AI tools for research productivity among Polytechnic academics in Niger State. The study recommended that Polytechnic lecturers and instructors in Niger State should augment their awareness and utilization of AI tools to promote research output.