Survey Links Perceived Usefulness of GenAI to Scholars’ Adoption Intentions

A cross-sectional survey of scholars and researchers in China suggests that how useful generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is perceived to be plays a central role in whether academics intend to adopt it in their research. The study, published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, analyzed 1,150 valid responses collected from 1,283 participants, with missing values removed before analysis.

The researchers applied the Technology Acceptance Model, a widely used framework that links perceptions of a technology to attitudes and behavioral intentions. In the survey data, perceived usefulness of GenAI was positively associated with attitudes toward the technology (β = 0.489, p < 0.001) and was directly associated with usage intention (β = 0.385, p < 0.001). Attitudes toward GenAI, in turn, showed a positive association with usage intention (β = 0.323, p < 0.001).

The analysis also tested whether attitudes mediate the relationship between perceived usefulness and intention to use GenAI. The indirect effect through attitudes was estimated at 0.157, with a bootstrapped 95 percent confidence interval of 0.120 to 0.199, indicating that the association between perceived usefulness and intention was partly transmitted through scholars’ attitudes toward the technology.

According to the authors, the findings underscore that positive perceptions of GenAI’s usefulness are associated with more favorable attitudes and stronger intentions to adopt it in research settings. Because the data are cross-sectional, the results describe associations among perceptions, attitudes, and intentions at a single point in time rather than demonstrating causal effects, and the findings reflect the surveyed population in China.

By extending the Technology Acceptance Model to GenAI adoption in academia, the study highlights the need for academic institutions to promote responsible use through ethical guidelines, training programs, and awareness campaigns, which the authors suggest may facilitate effective integration of GenAI into research practices.

Subject of Research: Scholars' perceptions, attitudes, and intentions toward adopting generative AI in academic research

Article Title: Exploring intentions to adopt GenAI in academia: perceived usefulness and attitudes among scholars and researchers

Article References: Wang, J. Z., Wang, Y., Huang, Y., & Zhao, X. (2026). Exploring intentions to adopt GenAI in academia: perceived usefulness and attitudes among scholars and researchers. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-09525-6

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1057/s41599-026-09525-6

Keywords: generative AI, academia, Technology Acceptance Model, perceived usefulness, survey research, usage intention, attitudes, scholars, research practices, China, Exploring, intentions