INTEGRATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH OF HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS IN PEDAGOGICAL SPECIALTIES: ALGORITHM, RISKS AND EDUCATIONAL PROSPECTS

Abstract

The rapid digitalization of education highlights the need for innovative tools to organize and enhance students’ research activities in higher education. This paper presents the findings of a study on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital tools into the scientific training of future teachers. The research was conducted at Kherson State University within the courses «Fundamentals of Scientific Research» and «Methodology and Technology of Organizing Pedagogical Research. Educational Measurement». A combination of methods was applied, including theoretical analysis of Ukrainian and international sources, systematization of pedagogical experience, a survey of master’s students regarding their use of AI in academic work, and a SWOT analysis of integration opportunities and risks. The results revealed that digital tools and AI-based technologies help reduce demotivating factors in students’ research, such as difficulties with information search, data visualization, and academic writing. Their integration increases research efficiency by automating routine operations, improving access to quality sources, and supporting the development of academic literacy. Based on the study, 
a four-stage pedagogical algorithm for AI application in students’ research was developed, including propaedeutic, normative-ethical, practical, and project-research phases. These stages provide a structured approach to cultivating students’ methodological competence, critical thinking, and responsible use of AI. The study also identified major risks – academic dishonesty, algorithmic bias, and the formation of superficial knowledge – and proposed pedagogical conditions for their minimization through critical thinking development, media literacy, and guided mentorship. Overall, the integration of AI into higher education contributes to modernizing the training of future teachers, promoting methodological awareness, academic integrity, and motivation for research, while maintзaining the priority of human expertise and creativity in the digital age.