Examining factors influencing university students’ perceptions of AI technologies in academic writing

Abstract

This study examines how university students in Qatar perceive factors influencing their acceptance of AI and its ethical and responsible use in academic writing, utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model. By the end of the Spring 2024 semester, 517 university students had completed an online survey. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM), which encompasses both measurement and structural models, was employed to analyze the data. In the context of AI for academic writing, the findings revealed varying levels of connection between usage, user concerns, and ethics. Perceived ease of use and attitudes showed the least association, whereas responsible AI and perceived ethics had the most substantial relationship. The findings also showed a negligible correlation between concerns and the use of AI in academic writing. These results can inform educators and policymakers in developing AI policies that strike a balance between benefits and ethical standards in educational settings for achieving SDG 4 (quality education).