Student Perception of the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools in Academic Tasks: Construction and Validation of the PEHIA-TA

Abstract

The aim of this study was to design and validate a questionnaire to assess students’ perceptions of the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in academic tasks (PEHIA-TA). To determine the psychometric properties of the PEHIA-TA, a descriptive, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was carried out. The sample used in this study consisted of 546 students. The results confirmed that it is a valid and reliable scale with a five-factor structure: “Uses of Artificial Intelligence (AI)” (student opinion, knowledge and experience in relation to AI); “Perceptions of skills needed to use AI” (type of skills they consider necessary to work with this type of tool); “Plagiarism and lack of academic integrity” (issues related to what the student considers plagiarism and lack of academic integrity in order to identify possible risks or associated moral dilemmas); “Perception of the benefits of AI” (assessment of the beneficial aspects of the use of AI in the academic context by students); and “Perception of the problems of AI” (analyses how students assess the problems associated with the use of AI tools in the development of their tasks). The instrument allows for the traceability of training needs in digital literacy, as well as the formulation of institutional policies on the use of AI that contribute to the prevention of behaviours associated with academic dishonesty and ensure critical reflection by students on the risks and opportunities of AI in their educational process.