Dissertation/ Thesis

AI usage patterns and educational outcomes in higher education

Bibliographic Details
Title: AI usage patterns and educational outcomes in higher education
Authors: Rández Ciordia, Javier
Contributors: Castellano Palomino, Marta Janira
Publisher Information: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Subject Terms: Artificial intelligence -- Educational applications, Tecnologia de la informació, Intel·ligència artificial -- Aplicacions a l'educació, Information technology, Education, Higher -- Surveys, Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Ensenyament i aprenentatge, Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Informàtica, Ensenyament universitari -- Enquestes
Description: This study investigates the patterns, perceptions, and academic impacts associated with the use of generative artificial intelligence tools among students in higher education, particularly focusing on technically-oriented degree programs within the Spanish context. The primary objectives were to characterize student engagement with AI tools, evaluate their perceived educational utility and risks, examine the relationship between AI usage and academic performance, and identify gaps in institutional support and preparedness. A mixed-method approach was employed, starting with an extensive literature review to frame existing scholarly discussions around AI in educational settings. Subsequently, an exploratory survey was conducted, reaching students primarily from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), specifically within the Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Industrial de Barcelona (ETSEIB). The survey explored usage patterns, motivations, concerns, and perceptions of institutional policies. A quantitative analysis using regression modeling was also carried out to preliminarily investigate correlations between AI usage and academic outcomes, although the sample size limited statistical robustness. Findings revealed widespread enthusiasm among students towards integrating AI tools, predominantly driven by perceived improvements in productivity, learning quality, and professional readiness. However, significant concerns were raised regarding ethical issues such as plagiarism, bias, and dependence on AI-generated content. The research also identified a pronounced misalignment between student expectations and institutional frameworks; notably, a majority of students reported unclear or insufficient institutional guidance on AI use. Regression models gave not statistically significant results, aligned with the ambivalence present in the existing literature. Ultimately, this research highlights critical gaps in policy clarity, institutional support, and pedagogical strategies regarding generative AI. It provides evidence-based recommendations for educators and policymakers, emphasizing the need for comprehensive AI literacy programs, clear ethical guidelines, and strategically integrated AI applications in higher education. Future research directions are suggested, advocating for more extensive, focused studies with larger and more diverse populations, as well as deeper consideration of social and gender equity dimensions in AI deployment.
Document Type: Bachelor thesis
File Description: application/pdf; application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
Language: English
Access URL: https://hdl.handle.net/2117/440016
Accession Number: edsair.od......3484..fc7cb8e5aa7adbd9593c6b9f96a17b7b
Database: OpenAIRE
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=od______3484%3A%3Afc7cb8e5aa7adbd9593c6b9f96a17b7b
    Name: EDS - OpenAIRE (ns324271)
    Category: fullText
    Text: View record at OpenAIRE
Header DbId: edsair
DbLabel: OpenAIRE
An: edsair.od......3484..fc7cb8e5aa7adbd9593c6b9f96a17b7b
RelevancyScore: 924
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Dissertation/ Thesis
PubTypeId: dissertation
PreciseRelevancyScore: 924.204406738281
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: AI usage patterns and educational outcomes in higher education
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rández+Ciordia%2C+Javier%22">Rández Ciordia, Javier</searchLink>
– Name: Author
  Label: Contributors
  Group: Au
  Data: Castellano Palomino, Marta Janira
– Name: Publisher
  Label: Publisher Information
  Group: PubInfo
  Data: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2025.
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Year
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+intelligence+--+Educational+applications%22">Artificial intelligence -- Educational applications</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tecnologia+de+la+informació%22">Tecnologia de la informació</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intel·ligència+artificial+--+Aplicacions+a+l'educació%22">Intel·ligència artificial -- Aplicacions a l'educació</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+technology%22">Information technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Education%2C+Higher+--+Surveys%22">Education, Higher -- Surveys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Àrees+temàtiques+de+la+UPC%3A%3AEnsenyament+i+aprenentatge%22">Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Ensenyament i aprenentatge</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Àrees+temàtiques+de+la+UPC%3A%3AInformàtica%22">Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Informàtica</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ensenyament+universitari+--+Enquestes%22">Ensenyament universitari -- Enquestes</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Description
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study investigates the patterns, perceptions, and academic impacts associated with the use of generative artificial intelligence tools among students in higher education, particularly focusing on technically-oriented degree programs within the Spanish context. The primary objectives were to characterize student engagement with AI tools, evaluate their perceived educational utility and risks, examine the relationship between AI usage and academic performance, and identify gaps in institutional support and preparedness. A mixed-method approach was employed, starting with an extensive literature review to frame existing scholarly discussions around AI in educational settings. Subsequently, an exploratory survey was conducted, reaching students primarily from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), specifically within the Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Industrial de Barcelona (ETSEIB). The survey explored usage patterns, motivations, concerns, and perceptions of institutional policies. A quantitative analysis using regression modeling was also carried out to preliminarily investigate correlations between AI usage and academic outcomes, although the sample size limited statistical robustness. Findings revealed widespread enthusiasm among students towards integrating AI tools, predominantly driven by perceived improvements in productivity, learning quality, and professional readiness. However, significant concerns were raised regarding ethical issues such as plagiarism, bias, and dependence on AI-generated content. The research also identified a pronounced misalignment between student expectations and institutional frameworks; notably, a majority of students reported unclear or insufficient institutional guidance on AI use. Regression models gave not statistically significant results, aligned with the ambivalence present in the existing literature. Ultimately, this research highlights critical gaps in policy clarity, institutional support, and pedagogical strategies regarding generative AI. It provides evidence-based recommendations for educators and policymakers, emphasizing the need for comprehensive AI literacy programs, clear ethical guidelines, and strategically integrated AI applications in higher education. Future research directions are suggested, advocating for more extensive, focused studies with larger and more diverse populations, as well as deeper consideration of social and gender equity dimensions in AI deployment.
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Bachelor thesis
– Name: Format
  Label: File Description
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: application/pdf; application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: URL
  Label: Access URL
  Group: URL
  Data: <link linkTarget="URL" linkTerm="https://hdl.handle.net/2117/440016" linkWindow="_blank">https://hdl.handle.net/2117/440016</link>
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: edsair.od......3484..fc7cb8e5aa7adbd9593c6b9f96a17b7b
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsair&AN=edsair.od......3484..fc7cb8e5aa7adbd9593c6b9f96a17b7b
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Artificial intelligence -- Educational applications
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tecnologia de la informació
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intel·ligència artificial -- Aplicacions a l'educació
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Education, Higher -- Surveys
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Ensenyament i aprenentatge
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Informàtica
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ensenyament universitari -- Enquestes
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: AI usage patterns and educational outcomes in higher education
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rández Ciordia, Javier
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Castellano Palomino, Marta Janira
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-locals
              Value: edsair
            – Type: issn-locals
              Value: edsairFT
ResultId 1