Cited by 56Artificial Intelligence in EducationAcademic integrity and plagiarismArtificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education

Generative AI in Higher Education: Uncertain Students, Ambiguous Use Cases, and Mercenary Perspectives

Stone, Brian W.·2025·Teaching of Psychology

Abstract

Background: Students in higher education are using generative artificial intelligence (AI) despite mixed messages and contradictory policies. Objective: This study helps answer outstanding questions about many aspects of AI in higher education: familiarity, usage, perceptions of peers, ethical/social views, and AI grading. Method: I surveyed 733 undergraduates. Results: Students reported mixed levels of experience with AI and tended toward nervousness over excitement. Most reported professors addressing AI but not integrating it. While 41% of students had used AI in ways explicitly banned, many more students (59%) reported ambiguous use cases. Students overestimated peer cheating, and this predicted their own cheating, as did general experience with and excitement about AI. Meanwhile, 11% of students reported false accusations, with first-generation students possibly at a higher rate. Pragmatic views about career and inequality may be affecting behaviors. Men consistently reported more involvement with AI than women. Conclusion: Future research should focus on the hybrid collaboration of humans and AI and how AI might be leveraged to support and scaffold genuine learning. Teaching Implications: AI will be relevant to many future careers, and students increasingly want it to be part of their education. Academic integrity will be a continuing challenge, and students need transparency.

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Crossref · 10.1177/00986283241305398

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51 of 51 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • A survey of 733 undergraduates revealed mixed familiarity with GenAI, with students more often reporting feelings of nervousness rather than excitement, due to unclear institutional policies and expectations.

    “For instance, a survey of 733 undergraduates revealed mixed familiarity with GenAI, with students more often reporting feelings of nervousness rather than excitement, due to unclear institutional policies and expectations (Stone, 2024).”

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Authors
Stone, B. W.
Affiliations
Boise State University (US)
Corresponding author
Stone, Brian W.
Venue
Teaching of Psychology
Published
2024-12-20
Volume
52
Issue
3
Pages
347-356
ISSN
  • 0098-6283 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-8023
OpenAlex
W4405646121
Cited by
54
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 36 · 2025: 18
FWCI
20.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Teaching of Psychology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Artificial Intelligence in Education
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Academic integrity and plagiarism
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Health Informatics › Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
Keywords
generative AI, university students, academic integrity, cheating, AI use in education, student perceptions, peer perception, AI grading, first-generation college students, gender differences, human-AI collaboration, undergraduate students

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