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Article http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/er.2026.04.010

Empowering Postgraduate Academic Research: AI-driven Insights and Challenges of Large Language Models

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Yihuan Yuan

Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang 052160, Hebei, China.

*Corresponding author: Yihuan Yuan

This paper was supported by Hebei GEO University Postgraduate Education and Teaching Reform Project: Research on Postgraduate English Learning Engagement Driven by GenAI Interactive Feedback under the Smart Education Ecosystem (No. YJG2026016).
Published: April 29,2026

Abstract

The increasing scale and complexity of academic research have brought significant challenges to researchers, especially graduate students. In response to these challenges, the use of large language models such as ChatGPT has gradually become a promising alternative. Through semi-structured interviews with 50 doctoral students, this study explores the application, challenges, and coping strategies of big language models in postgraduate academic research. The research results show that the big language model provides empowerment for postgraduate academic research in six key areas. In addition, the study identified six challenges and proposed four solutions. On this basis, this study constructs the AI-AAR framework to guide the application of big language models in academic research. This study not only reveals the practical benefits of integrating the big language model into academic research but also provides insights into optimizing its application to enhance academic productivity and knowledge progress.

Keywords

Academic research; large language models; postgraduates; artificial intelligence-assisted academic research (AI-AAR) framework

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How to cite this paper

Empowering Postgraduate Academic Research: AI-driven Insights and Challenges of Large Language Models

How to cite this paper: Yihuan Yuan. (2026). Empowering Postgraduate Academic Research: AI-driven Insights and Challenges of Large Language ModelsThe Educational Review, USA10(4), 247-253.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/er.2026.04.010