Students’ perceptions of AI and its impact on their academic and career plans show some differences based on gender and financial aid status, as highlighted in the following studies:
Gender Differences
– Male students tend to have a higher perception of AI benefits compared to female students. A study using Welsh ANOVA found that male students scored significantly higher than female students in terms of AI benefits, although there was no significant difference in their perceptions of AI opportunities.
– In terms of the impact of AI on academic plans, 20% of male students reported that AI has significantly impacted their academic plans, compared to 10% of female students and 4% of nonbinary students.
– For career plans, 52% of male students said AI is impacting their career plans, versus 35% of women and 35% of nonbinary students.
– Male students are also more likely to believe that their institutions should be preparing them for AI in the workplace, with 77% of men holding this view compared to 69% of women and nonbinary respondents.
Financial Aid Status
– Students without financial aid are more likely to report that AI is influencing their study plans. 60% of students with no financial aid said AI is influencing their study plans either a lot or somewhat, compared to 45% of students receiving financial aid.
– Similarly, for career plans, 51% of students without financial aid reported being influenced by AI, compared to 41% of students receiving financial aid.
– There is also a difference in the expectation for AI preparation in the workplace, though it is less pronounced. However, the overall trend suggests that students without financial aid may have a slightly higher expectation for AI preparation, aligning with their greater reported influence of AI on their plans.
These findings indicate that gender and financial aid status can influence how students perceive and respond to the impact of AI on their academic and career trajectories.