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Generative AI at Stellenbosch University : implications for the social sciences and humanities
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614063119302656 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Van Huyssteen, Ava Rina |
| author2 | Hill, Lloyd |
| author_browse | Hill, Lloyd Van Huyssteen, Ava Rina |
| author_facet | Hill, Lloyd Van Huyssteen, Ava Rina |
| author_sort | Van Huyssteen, Ava Rina |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132344 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:04.365Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132344 Generative AI at Stellenbosch University : implications for the social sciences and humanities Van Huyssteen, Ava Rina Hill, Lloyd Dubbeld, Bernard Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology. Artificial intelligence -- Educational applications -- South Africa Artificial intelligence -- Social aspects -- South Africa Artificial intelligence -- Moral and ethical aspects Natural language processing (Computer science) Generative artificial intelligence Education, Higher -- Effect of technological innovations on Education, Higher -- Quality control -- South Africa Plagiarism -- Prevention Humanities -- Study and teaching (Higher) Social sciences -- Study and teaching (Higher) Stellenbosch University UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Van Huyssteen, A. R. 2025. Generative AI at Stellenbosch University: Implications for the Social Sciences and Humanities. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/cb6b7fd3-876b-41b3-8355-d183492dbfe2 ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This project investigates how lecturers in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University respond to the rise of Large Language Models (LLMs). The LLM signifies an advancement of high magnitude in the development of natural language processors, that is, digital programmes with the ability to generate human-like text. Investigating how humanities and social sciences lecturers responded first-hand and in real-time to LLMs, provides rich data that addresses larger questions pertaining to fundamental themes invoked by the rise of LLMs. Through this research, it has become clear that the LLM presents a threat to pedagogical traditions that characterise undergraduate teaching, learning and assessment in the humanities and social sciences. This pedagogical tradition clusters around the use of the undergraduate essay. The perception of the LLM is that it undermines the essay. However, analysis of qualitative data on lecturer responses on LLMs and the essay, reveals an interesting finding. There exist two different conceptions of the essay in the humanities and social sciences. One is the essay based on the summation and synthesis of content, and the other is the essay as form, in other words, a composition of Language and concepts into an argument that reveals the author’s voice. Both approaches to essay writing claim to test certain skills that a humanities and social sciences student should have. The outsourcing of these skills to the LLM prompts dire predictions about the devaluing of the skills a degree in the humanities and social sciences is understood to give graduates. This is exacerbated by existing issues in the way South African higher education is structured. Overall, the LLM may prompt a renewed perspective on the essential value of humanities and social sciences teaching. This commitment may redesign pedagogical approaches to go beyond teaching students to merely regurgitate content and summarise existing writing. A renewed focus to try and produce what seems to be deeply human within humanities training, is likely on the horizon in an era increasingly defined by the automation of human skills. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar nie. Masters 2025-06-04T10:17:13Z 2025-06-04T10:17:13Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132344 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 72 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Artificial intelligence -- Educational applications -- South Africa Artificial intelligence -- Social aspects -- South Africa Artificial intelligence -- Moral and ethical aspects Natural language processing (Computer science) Generative artificial intelligence Education, Higher -- Effect of technological innovations on Education, Higher -- Quality control -- South Africa Plagiarism -- Prevention Humanities -- Study and teaching (Higher) Social sciences -- Study and teaching (Higher) Stellenbosch University UCTD Van Huyssteen, Ava Rina Generative AI at Stellenbosch University : implications for the social sciences and humanities |
| title | Generative AI at Stellenbosch University : implications for the social sciences and humanities |
| title_full | Generative AI at Stellenbosch University : implications for the social sciences and humanities |
| title_fullStr | Generative AI at Stellenbosch University : implications for the social sciences and humanities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Generative AI at Stellenbosch University : implications for the social sciences and humanities |
| title_short | Generative AI at Stellenbosch University : implications for the social sciences and humanities |
| title_sort | generative ai at stellenbosch university implications for the social sciences and humanities |
| topic | Artificial intelligence -- Educational applications -- South Africa Artificial intelligence -- Social aspects -- South Africa Artificial intelligence -- Moral and ethical aspects Natural language processing (Computer science) Generative artificial intelligence Education, Higher -- Effect of technological innovations on Education, Higher -- Quality control -- South Africa Plagiarism -- Prevention Humanities -- Study and teaching (Higher) Social sciences -- Study and teaching (Higher) Stellenbosch University UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132344 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vanhuyssteenavarina generativeaiatstellenboschuniversityimplicationsforthesocialsciencesandhumanities |