Blog #3 - Research Gaps

 The research gap I am exploring exists as an empirical gap. The study of how many students of each academic year and major use AI and to what degree has been done in a few forms across different organizations and subjects. However, there hasn't been one done at Utah Tech University. By completing this research, it can be added to the pool of study matter as well as in finding ways to help shape the future use of AI in the education of students at all levels.

Blog #2 - Potential Sources and Why

Topic: Utah Tech Students' Use of AI

Goal: Find out to what degree students of Utah Tech are using AI, GPT, or LLMs in their academic or personal lives.

1.   Contractor, Zara, and Germán Reyes. Generative AI in Higher Education: Evidence from an Elite College. IZA - Institute of Labor Economics, 2025. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep71911. Accessed 9 Sept. 2025. This paper has already done research at 80 different colleges about AI, but focuses on how to implement its use without compromising higher learning
2. Nathan Ayele. The Usage of New AI Technologies by College Students and Its Influence on Learning and Dependence. 2024. Honors Projects: Open Access (2019-present). Caldwell University Archives, JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.37312334. Accessed 9 Sept. 2025. This paper uses the same study that claims 80% of college students use AI. It tests that AI was able to help improve scores, but dependency on AI learning rose too high, preventing critical thinking skills
3. De Spiegeleire, Stephan, et al. “WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?” ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE FUTURE OF DEFENSE: STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS FOR SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED FORCE PROVIDERS, Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, 2017, pp. 25–42. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep12564.7. Accessed 9 Sept. 2025. This paper gives us better definitions of what AI actually is. It is important to define the breadth of AI discussed.
4. Bick, Alexander, et al. “The Rapid Adoption of Generative AI.” SSRN Electronic Journal, 2024, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4964384. This is the study most of the other papers are getting their numbers from. It will be important for me to understand their methods
5. UNESCO. “Regulating the Use of Generative AI in Education.” Guidance for Generative AI in Education and Research, UNESCO, 2023, pp. 18–23. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep70313.9. Accessed 9 Sept. 2025. Ethics and moral standing with AI in education
6. https://utahtech.edu/ai/ I am not out to get anyone in trouble, as this will be anonymous, but this is the question. Is this being followed? Where are the strong/weak points
7. Hu, De-Xin, et al. “Evaluating the Effects of Generative AI on Student Learning Outcomes: Insights from a Meta-Analysis.” Educational Technology & Society, vol. 28, no. 3, 2025, pp. 226–40. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48827959. Accessed 9 Sept. 2025. What are the learning trends due to different levels of AI use?