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Generative AI Usage among University Students Depends on Academic Level and Task

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Title: Generative AI Usage among University Students Depends on Academic Level and Task
Language: English
Authors: Karen Singer-Freeman (ORCID 0000-0001-5365-9667), Kristi Verbeke (ORCID 0000-0003-3132-5468), Betsy Barre (ORCID 0009-0009-1116-6712)
Source: Higher Learning Research Communications. 2025 15(2).
Availability: Walden University, LLC. 100 Washington Avenue South Suite 900, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Tel: 800-925-3368; Fax: 612-338-5092; e-mail: HLRCeditor@mail.waldenu.edu; Web site: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/hlrc/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, Educational Technology, Educational Policy, Technology Uses in Education, Student Attitudes, Integrity, Age Differences, Anxiety, Artificial Intelligence, Man Machine Systems, Natural Language Processing
ISSN: 2157-6254
Abstract: Objectives: The present study investigated the extent to which AI use and opinions about its use will vary by academic stage and academic task in ways that align with Budwig's (2013) developmental stages. Methods: We surveyed 1,259 students from different academic stages (first-year students, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students) at a highly selective private university in the United States. Results: We found that all students desire institutional AI policies and are concerned about the negative consequences of AI use by themselves and others. There was some evidence of the use of AI in ways that might violate academic integrity. Students' usage patterns reveal more frequent use of AI to support studying and preparation, with less frequent use to support writing, data processing, and graphic creation. Notably, we found interesting differences between students of different academic stages. First-year students were generally more conservative and anxious about AI use, whereas seniors and graduate students more frequently viewed AI as a beneficial tool for managing complex tasks and enhancing productivity. Conclusions: We discuss implications of our findings for future research and for the effective education of students from different academic stages.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1483790
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Generative AI Usage among University Students Depends on Academic Level and Task
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karen+Singer-Freeman%22">Karen Singer-Freeman</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5365-9667">0000-0001-5365-9667</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kristi+Verbeke%22">Kristi Verbeke</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3132-5468">0000-0003-3132-5468</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Betsy+Barre%22">Betsy Barre</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1116-6712">0009-0009-1116-6712</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Higher+Learning+Research+Communications%22"><i>Higher Learning Research Communications</i></searchLink>. 2025 15(2).
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  Data: Walden University, LLC. 100 Washington Avenue South Suite 900, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Tel: 800-925-3368; Fax: 612-338-5092; e-mail: HLRCeditor@mail.waldenu.edu; Web site: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/hlrc/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Students%22">Graduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Technology%22">Educational Technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Integrity%22">Integrity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+Differences%22">Age Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety%22">Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+Intelligence%22">Artificial Intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Man+Machine+Systems%22">Man Machine Systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Natural+Language+Processing%22">Natural Language Processing</searchLink>
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  Data: 2157-6254
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Objectives: The present study investigated the extent to which AI use and opinions about its use will vary by academic stage and academic task in ways that align with Budwig's (2013) developmental stages. Methods: We surveyed 1,259 students from different academic stages (first-year students, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students) at a highly selective private university in the United States. Results: We found that all students desire institutional AI policies and are concerned about the negative consequences of AI use by themselves and others. There was some evidence of the use of AI in ways that might violate academic integrity. Students' usage patterns reveal more frequent use of AI to support studying and preparation, with less frequent use to support writing, data processing, and graphic creation. Notably, we found interesting differences between students of different academic stages. First-year students were generally more conservative and anxious about AI use, whereas seniors and graduate students more frequently viewed AI as a beneficial tool for managing complex tasks and enhancing productivity. Conclusions: We discuss implications of our findings for future research and for the effective education of students from different academic stages.
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 25
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Uses in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Integrity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Age Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Artificial Intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Man Machine Systems
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Natural Language Processing
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      – TitleFull: Generative AI Usage among University Students Depends on Academic Level and Task
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              Y: 2025
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