ChatGPT in higher education - A Student's perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of factors influencing students' adoption of ChatGPT within the context of higher education. With the rapid expansion of its user base and its increasing utilization across various fields, there is a pressing need to comprehensively explore students' interactions and experiences with this innovative technology, a topic largely unaddressed in existing literature. This paper aims to identify the factors contributing to ChatGPT's rapid proliferation and to highlight its potential for reshaping higher education. To achieve our research objective, we extend the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) with a quantitative approach. We collected data from a sample of 283 university students in the United Arab Emirates, employing a convenience sampling method. Our findings reveal significant impacts of students' trust, effort expectancy, performance expectancy, and hedonic motivation on their attitudes towards ChatGPT. Additionally, perceived risks and attitude towards ChatGPT significantly influence students' intentions to sustain its usage for educational purposes. Intriguingly, social influences were found to have no significant impact on students' intentions to engage with this AI-based chatbot. These findings have practical implications for the integration of ChatGPT in higher education. Educators and institutions should focus on building trust and enhancing students' perception of effort, performance, and hedonic aspects related to ChatGPT. Addressing perceived risks and fostering a positive attitude can promote sustained usage for educational purposes. This study contributes to the existing literature by shedding light on students' reception of ChatGPT in higher education, an underexplored area. The extension of UTAUT2 and the quantitative analysis provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the factors influencing students' attitudes and intentions regarding this technology. The findings offer valuable insights into the potential transformation of higher education through the adoption of AI-based chatbots like ChatGPT.