Exploring Senior High School Students’ Use and Misuse of ChatGPT

This study explored the extent to which senior high school students utilize ChatGPT to support academic learning and to gain unjust academic advantages, as well as whether usage differs according to demographic profiles. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was employed, with data collected from 367 senior high school students via an online survey. The findings reveal that students occasionally use ChatGPT as a supplementary learning tool. However, reported instances of its misuse for academically dishonest purposes were minimal, suggesting such behavior is infrequent among the respondents. Statistically significant differences were observed in the extent of misuse when analyzed by grade level and academic strand, with Grade 11 students and those in the Sports track demonstrating higher levels of inappropriate use. These results highlight the need for educational institutions to develop clear, policy-based frameworks that delineate the ethical use of artificial intelligence tools. As AI continues to evolve within academic contexts, it is essential that students are guided by well-defined ethical standards that promote responsible usage and uphold academic integrity.