Manuscript Submitted to Journal of Public Health

http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jph

"Ghostwriting": a reflection of academic dishonesty in the

artificial intelligence era

Journal: Journal of Public Health

Manuscript ID JPH-23-0826

Manuscript Type: Correspondence

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Date Submitted by the

24-Jul-2023
Author:
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Complete List of Authors: Padillah, Raup; Universitas PGRI Banyuwangi, FKIP

Keywords: Educational settings, Individual Behaviour

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Page 1 of 4 Manuscript Submitted to Journal of Public Health

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3 Correspondence:
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6 "Ghostwriting": a reflection of academic dishonesty in the artificial
7 intelligence era
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10 Raup Padillah1
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12 1Universitas PGRI Banyuwangi, Indonesia
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Dear Editors,
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18 This is a correspondence ChatGPT in the education environment(1), the authors discuss apart from
19 providing many benefits, ChatGPT also has many dangers threatening students, on the other hand
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20 is of particular concern is academic dishonesty. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) like
21 ChatGPT has ushered in a new era of possibilities, impact on various aspects, including education.
22 While AI offers promising tools to enhance learning and streamline academic processes, it also
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poses challenges to academic integrity. One such challenge is the rise of "ghostwriting" – an
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25 emerging form of academic dishonesty facilitated by AI-powered language models like ChatGPT.
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27 Ghostwriting, in an academic context refers to the act of hiring someone else, which is in the
28 current case using AI like ChatGPT(2)(3), to produce written academic work on behalf of a
29 student. These ghostwriters, powered by advanced AI algorithms, can generate essays, research
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30 papers, and even dissertations, often without leaving any original thoughts of their involvement.
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AI language models offer a seemingly convenient and efficient solution, generating custom-
written material based on input prompts. When students submit work authored by AI as their own,
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34 they misrepresent their abilities and achievements, undermining the fundamental principles of
35 education and fairness. Ghostwriting perpetuates a culture of dishonesty and devalues authentic
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learning experiences(4).
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Detecting ghostwritten content poses a significant challenge for educational institutions. AI-
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40 generated texts often mimic human writing to the extent that traditional plagiarism detection tools
41 struggle to differentiate between authentic and AI-written content. As a result, academic
42 dishonesty facilitated by AI(5,6) remains largely hidden, making it even more insidious. To
43 combat these challenges, educational institutions must invest in advanced plagiarism detection like
44 “Turnitin” or similar applications with systems specifically designed to identify AI-generated
45 content. Promoting a culture of academic integrity(7), emphasizing the value of authentic learning,
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and providing support to students facing academic pressures(8) can help reduce the allure of
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48 ghostwriting services.
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50 Academic honesty is not merely a set of rules but a fundamental aspect of a student's educational
51 journey. Embracing honesty in their academic pursuits not only shapes their character and values
52 but also equips them with essential skills for personal growth and success in both academic and
53 professional realms(9). By upholding academic integrity, students play a vital role in creating a
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positive and meaningful learning experience for themselves and others around them(10).
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 Manuscript Submitted to Journal of Public Health Page 2 of 4

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3 In conclusion, ghostwriting represents a concerning reflection of academic dishonesty in the AI
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era. As technology evolves, it is crucial to address the challenges it poses to academic integrity
6 head-on. Striking a balance between harnessing AI's potential and preserving the values of
7 education will be critical in shaping an ethical AI-powered educational landscape. By doing so,
8 we can ensure that AI becomes a force for good in education, empowering students to learn and
9 grow honestly and authentically.
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Funding
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The authors declared no funding was received for this paper.
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15 Conflictt of interest
16 The authors declare no conflict of interest in this paper
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References
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3 10. Almutairi YMN. Effects of Academic Integrity of Faculty Members on Students’ Ethical
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5 Behavior. Khalid B, editor. Educ Res Int [Internet]. 2022;2022:6806752. Available from:
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10 Raup Padillah1
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12 1Universitas PGRI Banyuwangi, Indonesia
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