2026-10-12T17:52:55Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33691720 2026-09-13T11:06:16Z category_26209 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

Dataset-649 Mingyuan Ding (24730975) Other education not elsewhere classified Generative AI Distributed cognition theory AI-assisted task performance Higher-order thinking skills Academic self-efficacy <p dir="ltr">This study used a cross-sectional questionnaire survey to examine how university students’ AI use behavior relates to perceived AI-assisted task performance and higher-order thinking skills through cognitive vigilance and cognitive offloading, with academic self-efficacy examined as a moderator. The target population consisted of adult university students with prior experience using AI for learning. For the main survey, 750 responses were collected through university-based recruitment and the Wenjuanxing online survey platform, of which 649 valid responses were retained after data-quality screening.</p><p dir="ltr">All constructs were measured using established scales adapted to the AI-assisted learning context and assessed on seven-point Likert scales. The variables include AI use behavior, cognitive vigilance, cognitive offloading, perceived AI-assisted task performance, higher-order thinking skills, academic self-efficacy, and demographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS 4. Measurement reliability and validity were assessed before testing direct, mediating, and moderating effects using bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples.</p><p dir="ltr">This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Formal ethical approval was not required under the institutional guidelines applicable at the time of data collection because the study involved an anonymous, minimal-risk survey of adult students and collected no sensitive or personally identifiable information. Electronic written informed consent was obtained from all participants before they completed the questionnaire, and all responses were collected anonymously.</p> 2026-09-13T11:06:16Z Dataset Dataset 10.6084/m9.figshare.33691720.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Dataset-649/33691720 CC BY 4.0