Portuguese secondary school students’ perceptions regarding the use of ChatGPT
Ana Callado, Isabel Saúde, José Luís Araújo · Contemporary Educational Technology · 2025
AI-generated evidence extraction, verified across multiple analytical personas. Not a substitute for the peer-reviewed original.
This is an AI analysis. Read the peer-reviewed original at the publisher: https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/17516
Methodology & findings
Study design
Cross-sectional survey study with 114 secondary school students (aged 16-17) using a 15-item questionnaire containing closed-ended and open-ended items covering five dimensions: knowledge of AI and ChatGPT, use of ChatGPT, perceived accuracy of ChatGPT-generated outputs, potential of ChatGPT for teaching, and ethics and academic integrity.
Sample
N = 114, 3 groups
Primary method
Descriptive analysis for closed-ended items; content analysis for open-ended responses
Main result
The study found that "although most students are familiar with AI and ChatGPT, their demonstrated knowledge is largely utilitarian and superficial." Additionally, "Students predominantly use ChatGPT for schoolwork and attribute high reliability to its outputs, often without the necessary critical evaluation," and "weaknesses in their ethical understanding, particularly regarding academic integrity and plagiarism" were identified.
Reports effect sizes.
Research paradigm
Mixed methods (quantitative descriptive and qualitative content analysis)
Author conclusions
The authors conclude that "Education for the ethical and responsible use of these technologies proves essential to prepare young people for future challenges," and they "argue for critical AI literacy and teacher professional development to support pedagogically grounded and ethical integration of GenAI."
Risk of bias
Selection bias: Single school sample may not represent broader Portuguese secondary school population; Sample size: 114 students is a relatively small sample for generalization; Self-report bias: Questionnaire-based responses may not reflect actual behavior; Cross-sectional design: No temporal assessment of changes in perceptions; Selection bias: Single school sample limits generalizability to broader Portuguese secondary student population; Convenience sampling: Non-random recruitment may introduce selection bias; Social desirability bias: Self-reported perceptions in questionnaire responses may not reflect actual behavior or beliefs; Limited sample size (n=114) reduces statistical power for subgroup analyses; Selection bias: Sample drawn from single school only; Limited sample size (n=114) may not be representative; Potential self-selection bias in survey participation; Cross-sectional design limits causal inference
Limitations
- The paper states it surveyed "114 students from one school in 2024," which represents a limited sample from a single institution, restricting generalizability
- The authors argue for "critical AI literacy and teacher professional development" as necessary interventions, implying limitations in current educational approaches to addressing these gaps.
Open questions raised
- The authors identify a need for critical AI literacy and teacher professional development to support pedagogically grounded and ethical integration of generative AI in education.
- The authors identify the need for critical AI literacy development among students and teacher professional development to support the pedagogically grounded and ethical integration of generative AI in education.
- The study identifies the need for critical AI literacy development among secondary students, teacher professional development for supporting GenAI integration, and pedagogically grounded approaches to teaching ethical use of generative AI technologies.
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