Undergraduate Perceptions of AI Tools in Higher Education: A Mixed-Methods Exploration

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 11:45 am - Gold 3
  In Roundtable Session: Teachers’ Perspectives, Readiness and Experiences in the Post-COVID AI Era

Abstract

This mixed-methods study explores undergraduate students’ perceptions of generative AI tools in higher education. Quantitative data from 107 survey participants revealed four key factors: perceived benefits of AI, attitudes toward AI integration, perceived challenges, and educational impact. Semi-structured interviews with a diverse subset of students offered qualitative insights into AI as a learning aid, ethical concerns, and overreliance risks. Guided by Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, this study found that students embrace AI for efficiency and clarity but express caution around fairness, cognitive offloading, and institutional guidance. Integrated findings underscore the need for ethical frameworks and structured support to ensure responsible AI use in academic settings.

Authors

• Burhan Ozfidan, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Santiago Luaces, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Christa Reyes, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Nika Verna, Florida Gulf Coast University