Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-29-2026
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore online professional practice doctoral students' and recent graduates' (2022-2025) use of editing software, GenAI/AI browser extensions, and human editors, examining their practices and institutional policy perspectives. Using Lentz's (2024) ethical authorship framework, researchers analyzed 29 participant responses. Four themes emerged: Foundational Academic Excellence and Support, Innovative Learning and Development, Quality Assurance and Professional Growth, and Inconsistent Institutional Practice and Ethical Oversight. Findings identified distinct functional purposes and five commonalities across editorial resources. Participants strategically employed different resources while maintaining authorial agency and critical judgment, yet reported widespread inconsistency in faculty guidance, revealing significant governance gaps. GenAI tools provided social-emotional support for isolated online learners. Participants demonstrated ethical authorship consciousness and opposed blanket prohibitions, advocating instead for comprehensive institutional guidelines. Results challenge traditional academic integrity frameworks and recommend program-level policies informed by ethical authorship principles.
College/Unit
College of Education
Academic Department
Doctoral Studies
Publication or Event Title
Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice
Volume
11
Issue
3
First Page
40
Last Page
50
ISSN
2472-5889
DOI
10.5195/ie.2026.593
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Storey, V. A., Greene, T., & Salgado, L. (2026). Human and AI Editing Tool Use Among Online Professional Practice/Applied Practice Doctoral Students. Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice, 11 (3), 40-50. https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2026.593
Comments
See related presentation Navigating Academic Integrity in the Gen AI Era: Human and AI Editing Tool Use Among Online Professional Practice Doctoral Students given at the 2025 Franklin University Scholarship Showcase.