AI Ethics Awareness Survey for Students

Welcome to this research survey about your experiences with and views on artificial intelligence. This survey is being conducted for academic research purposes. Your participation is completely voluntary, and you may stop at any time without penalty. There are no right or wrong answers — we are interested in your honest opinions and experiences. Your responses will be kept confidential, analyzed in aggregate, and reported anonymously. No individual responses will be shared. The survey should take approximately 8–12 minutes to complete. By continuing, you confirm that you are 18 years of age or older and consent to participate in this study.

Are you currently enrolled as a student at a college or university (full-time or part-time)?

• Yes
• No

Which of the following best describes your current level of study?

• First-year undergraduate
• Second-year undergraduate
• Third-year undergraduate
• Fourth-year undergraduate or beyond
• Master's / professional degree student
• Doctoral (PhD) student
• Other (please specify)

The following questions ask about specific concepts related to artificial intelligence. Please indicate your level of familiarity with each.

Have you received any formal education or training specifically on ethics related to artificial intelligence? Select all that apply.

• Yes — as part of a required course
• Yes — as part of an elective course
• Yes — through a workshop, seminar, or extracurricular program
• Yes — through self-directed learning (e.g., online courses, readings)
• No — I have not received any AI ethics training
• I'm not sure

The next questions describe hypothetical situations involving AI. Please read each scenario carefully and select the option closest to what you would actually do — not what you think you should do.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

Imagine you are choosing between two AI-powered study tools: • Tool A is more accurate and convenient but collects extensive personal data with limited transparency about how it works. • Tool B is slightly less accurate but is fully transparent about data use and has been independently audited for fairness. Which tool would you choose?

• Definitely Tool A (more accurate/convenient)
• Probably Tool A
• It would depend on the specific situation
• Probably Tool B
• Definitely Tool B (more ethical/transparent)

How concerned are you about the ethical implications of AI in each of the following areas?

Based on your responses throughout this survey, please share any additional thoughts, experiences, or concerns you have about AI ethics — particularly anything that was not covered in the previous questions.

Finally, we have a few background questions. These are used for analysis purposes only and will not be used to identify you.

What is your primary field of study?

• Computer Science / Information Technology
• Engineering
• Natural Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, etc.)
• Mathematics / Statistics
• Business / Management / Economics
• Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, etc.)
• Humanities (Philosophy, History, Literature, etc.)
• Arts / Design / Media
• Education
• Health Sciences / Medicine / Nursing
• Law
• Other (please specify)

How familiar are you with the concept of algorithmic bias (i.e., systematic errors in AI outputs that disadvantage certain groups)?

How would you rate the overall quality of the AI ethics education or training you received?

Scenario 1: You are completing a major course assignment and discover that the AI tool you used has generated content that closely mirrors an existing published source without attribution. What would you most likely do?

• Remove the AI-generated content entirely and rewrite it myself
• Keep the content but add a proper citation to the original source
• Flag the issue to my instructor and ask for guidance
• Keep the content as-is — the AI generated it, so it's not really plagiarism
• I'm not sure what I would do

AI systems should be required to explain how they reach their decisions.

How willing would you be to pay a small fee to use an AI tool that is more ethical and transparent, instead of a free tool with less transparency?

Education and academic integrity

What is your age?

• 18–20
• 21–23
• 24–26
• 27–30
• 31–35
• 36–40
• 41 or older
• Prefer not to say

How frequently do you use AI-powered tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Grammarly, image generators) for academic or personal tasks?

• Daily
• Several times a week
• About once a week
• A few times a month
• Rarely (less than once a month)
• Never

How familiar are you with the concept of fairness in AI (i.e., ensuring AI systems treat all individuals and groups equitably)?

Scenario 2: A classmate shows you an AI tool that can generate highly realistic fake references for a research paper. They suggest you both use it to save time. What would you most likely do?

• Decline and explain why I think it's wrong
• Decline but not say anything to my classmate about their choice
• Report the tool or the situation to an instructor or academic integrity office
• Consider using it depending on the stakes of the assignment
• Use it — if the references look real, it probably doesn't matter
• I'm not sure what I would do

Companies developing AI should be held legally responsible for harm caused by their systems.

How willing would you be to accept slower processing times in exchange for AI systems that provide clearer explanations of their outputs?

Employment and hiring decisions

What is your gender identity?

• Woman
• Man
• Non-binary / genderqueer
• A gender identity not listed here (please specify)
• Prefer not to say

How familiar are you with the concept of AI transparency and explainability (i.e., the ability to understand and explain how an AI system reaches its decisions)?

Government regulation of AI is necessary to protect the public.

How willing would you be to receive less personalized AI recommendations in exchange for stronger protection of your personal data?

Healthcare and medical diagnosis

In which country are you currently studying?

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Australia
• Germany
• India
• China
• Netherlands
• France
• Japan
• Brazil
• South Korea
• Other (please specify)
• Prefer not to say

How familiar are you with the concept of accountability for AI decisions (i.e., determining who is responsible when an AI system causes harm)?

Universities should require AI ethics training for all students, regardless of their field of study.

How willing would you be to spend extra time learning how to use a more ethical AI tool, even if a less ethical alternative were easier to use?

Criminal justice and policing

How familiar are you with concerns about data privacy in AI systems (i.e., how AI systems collect, store, and use personal data)?

Individuals should have the right to know when they are interacting with an AI system rather than a human.

Social media and content moderation