Understanding GenAI Adoption Among Undergraduate Learners: Perceptions, Use, and Familiarity

This study applied a convergent mixed methods design to examine familiarity, perceptions, and use of GenAI among undergraduate students by collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data. A total of N = 220 undergraduate students enrolled in education sciences courses in a large research university in the southeastern United States participated in the study by completing a Qualtrics survey that included closed-ended and open-ended items. Findings indicated that students are moderately familiar with GenAI, though many remain in the early stages of understanding its applications. GenAI adoption for academic purposes remains low, with most students interacting with GenAI only occasionally. Students hold neutral to moderately positive perceptions of GenAI, though concerns about its role in academic settings persist. Spearman rank-order correlations revealed that students further along in GenAI adoption tend to use it more frequently. The findings highlight the need for GenAI training and support in guiding students’ use.