Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Yeganeh Zhian Feizabadi ¹
• Mohsen Nowkarizi ²
• Masoumeh Tajafari ³

¹ KIS dept., Education and Psychology Faculty, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, IRAN

² KIS Dept., Education and Pschology Faculty, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

³ KIS dept,, Education and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of students’ understanding and use of AI chatbots in educational and research activities at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and to examine differences according to demographic characteristics.
Methodology: This applied study employed an analytical survey design. The study population consisted of students at different educational levels at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Using stratified random sampling, 378 students were selected, of whom 303 reported using generative AI and were included in the final analysis. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire whose content validity was confirmed by experts and whose reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, independent-samples t, one-way ANOVA, and Kendall’s correlation tests in SPSS.
Findings: The findings indicated that both students’ understanding of AI chatbot applications (mean = 2.23) and their use of AI chatbots (mean = 2.60) were below the moderate level. No statistically significant differences were found in students’ understanding of AI chatbots by gender, academic field, or educational level. Similarly, chatbot use did not differ significantly by gender or academic field; however, a statistically significant difference was observed by educational level, specifically between undergraduate and doctoral students. A positive and statistically significant relationship was also found between students’ understanding and use of AI chatbots (r = 0.38, p = 0.01).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that students’ understanding and use of AI chatbots remain below the moderate level, while greater understanding is positively associated with greater use.

Keywords

• Artificial Intelligence
• Generative Artificial Intelligence
• AI Chatbots
• Higher Education
• University Students

Main Subjects

• Technological Dimensions of Data, Information and Knowledge Studies