The Role of ChatGPT in Enhancing the Academic Integrity of Sports Sciences and Physical Education Students

Abstract

The generative artificial intelligence platforms, particularly ChatGPT, have experienced rapid expansion in classrooms at higher education contexts, and as their rapid usage continues to grow, real concerns have arisen regarding their impact on students' academic integrity and their interaction with academic work. Although scholarly interests in AI-assisted learning are growing, limited empirical research has been conducted on the impact of ChatGPT usage on academic integrity within the applied disciplines, such as Sports Sciences and Physical Education, where students have to think critically, process information, and use evidence-based thinking, particularly in Pakistani universities, where no explicit AI policies exist. This quantitative research and cross-sectional design primarily aimed to fill that critical gap by quantifying the impact of ChatGPT usage on the academic integrity of Sports sciences and physical education students at the University of Lahore, Pakistan. The researcher used a purposive sampling and universal sample size to gather data from 218 respondents who actively used ChatGPT in academic activities, enrolled in BS, MPhil, and PhD programs, using two instruments, the ChatGPT Usage Questionnaire and the validated Academic Integrity Scale, which measured integrity in five subscales: honesty, fairness, respect, trust, and responsibility. The Pearson correlation revealed (r =.541, p <.001) a moderate and significant positive correlation between the use of ChatGPT and academic integrity. Linear regression also confirmed that ChatGPT usage is a significant positive predictor of academic integrity (β=.541, B=.462, p <.001), explaining 29.3% of variance in integrity score (R² =.293, F=89.502, p< .001). Out of the five dimensions, honesty and respect had the most positive correlations with ChatGPT usage, while trust and fairness demonstrated a weak association, which indicates their dependence on the institutional policies framework. These findings support the alternative hypothesis, ChatGPT usage significantly impacts the academic integrity of Sports sciences and physical education students, indicating a purposeful academic tool and constructive usage of ChatGPT rather than a threat to academic standards, offering evidence-based practical implications for artificial intelligence policies development, curriculum design, and pedagogical practice in higher educational contexts.