Issues in Language Teaching

Navigating the Five Dimensions of Study Quality in the Age of AI: Iranian TESOL Researchers’ Experiences with Generative AI

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Masoud Taghipour 1
Roohollah Maleki 2

1 Department of English Language and Literature, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of English Language, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Shahid Sattari Aeronautical University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/ilt.2026.92695.989
Abstract
The increased use of generative AI in academic research has raised important questions about study quality, ethical practices, and human responsibility. Although frameworks such as Moorhouse et al.'s (2025) five-dimensional model—covering transparency, methodological rigor, ethics, societal value, and human accountability—aim to guide responsible use, little is known about how researchers experience these factors in real-world settings, particularly in under-researched contexts such as Iran. This phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of Iranian TESOL researchers regarding the integration of GenAI into their research, viewed through these five dimensions of study quality. To gather data, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 Iranian TESOL researchers. The data were analyzed using deductive qualitative content analysis aligned with the five-dimensional framework. Participants approached GenAI cautiously and thoughtfully. They valued transparency but were unsure about disclosure practices; maintained methodological rigor through careful human verification; voiced strong ethical concerns about plagiarism, privacy, and bias; hoped their work would benefit society but remained skeptical of superficial results; and emphasized that human accountability is essential. These findings highlight the need for context-specific guidelines, critical digital literacy training, and secure AI infrastructure to promote ethical and rigorous integration of GenAI in TESOL research.

Keywords

Generativ AI
Transparency
Methodological rigor
Ethics
Societal value
Subjects
Issues in Language Teaching

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 08 August 2026

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