Abstract
There is a burgeoning demand in the medical field for artificial intelligence programs that can provide users with virtual human healthcare, however little research has been done in relation to the perceptions of psychologists in adopting artificial intelligence in their daily practice. This research specifically focuses on the perceptions of South African psychologists towards the utilisation of artificial intelligence as a behavioural analysis tool. Situated in the diverse socio-cultural landscape of South Africa, the study aims to understand how psychologists view the integration of artificial intelligence into their practice, and what considerations they deem important for this integration. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of the technology acceptance model 3, this study employs an explorative and qualitative research design to understand this complex issue. In line with the research design, data was collected through semi-structured interviews, capturing the nuanced perspectives of psychologists. A purposive sampling strategy was used to select six participants who are practicing psychologists within the South African healthcare system. The data underwent reflexive thematic analysis, using Braun and Clarke’s six step process to identify superordinate and subordinate themes. Findings illuminate a multifaceted landscape marked by cautious optimism, ethical concerns, and specific functional requirements. Psychologists expressed a unanimous view that artificial intelligence should not be seen as a replacement for human expertise, but should serve as a complementary tool. This cautious optimism extends to the utility of artificial intelligence as a behavioural analysis tool. Participants further emphasised the need for empirical validation and ethical considerations, including cultural inclusivity and socio-economic accessibility. The study contributes to the discourse by highlighting the complexities and considerations in adopting artificial intelligence in psychological practice within the South African context.
Keywords: Artificial intelligence (AI), behavioural analysis tool, South African psychologists, qualitative research in psychology, socio-economic accessibility of AI