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Published Version (Advanced Access)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Using AI to generate formative feedback in doctoral education
Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, Vol.Advanced access
2025
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
This paper examines how artificial intelligence (AI) tools enhance feedback practices in doctoral education by providing a supplementary source of formative assessment. It explores the use of Generative AI alongside Grainger’s Formative Assessment Criteria-Based Tool (F.A.C.T.) in a single-subject case study of a pre-confirmation doctoral candidate at an Australian university. The study employs a naturalistic and interpretive approach with a sequential design, exploring interactions between a doctoral student and ChatGPT across multiple sessions where the AI tool evaluated a pre-confirmation thesis. Data collection included deidentified summarised feedback received from AI and an independent academic reviewer. Findings revealed that AI-generated feedback, guided by Grainger’s F.A.C.T. demonstrated thematic alignment with a human reviewer in identifying areas needing improvement, particularly regarding theoretical foundation and contribution to knowledge. However, the human reviewer provided contextually nuanced and discipline-specific feedback with more actionable suggestions. The study illustrates how, when coupled with formative rubrics, generative AI may serve as a supplementary feedback mechanism that may reduce power imbalances inherent in supervisor/reviewer-student relationships while providing expedient formative feedback. This research contributes to understanding how reflective practice in doctoral education may be enhanced through AI integration, addressing gaps in feedback literacy, socialisation, and standardised assessment parameters in doctoral contexts.
Details
- Title
- Using AI to generate formative feedback in doctoral education
- Authors
- David Tensen - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative IndustriesPeter Grainger - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Indigenous and Transcultural Research CentreWayne Graham - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative Industries
- Publication details
- Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, Vol.Advanced access
- Publisher
- Routledge
- DOI
- 10.1080/02602938.2025.2536558
- ISSN
- 1469-297X; 0260-2938
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Business and Creative Industries; Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; Graduate Research School; School of Education and Tertiary Access
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991141736802621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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