Exploring Vietnamese University Students’ Attitudes toward AI Tools in Education: An ABC Model Approach

Abstract

This study explores Vietnamese university students’ attitudes toward the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in learning, guided by the ABC model of attitude, which encompasses affective, behavioral, and cognitive components. A total of 313 students participated in the study, completing a 12-item questionnaire that assessed their attitudes toward AI tools. The findings revealed that students generally held highly positive attitudes, with the affective component scoring the highest, indicating strong emotional receptiveness. Significant and strong correlations were found among the three attitude components, validating the ABC model’s interrelated framework. Gender and year-level analyses showed that male students and senior-year students reported higher behavioral and cognitive engagement than their counterparts, although emotional responses were consistent across genders. Interestingly, the duration of AI tool use did not significantly impact attitudes, suggesting that factors beyond exposure time may shape perceptions. This study contributes to the growing literature by offering nuanced insights into how demographic variables influence AI adoption in education. It also highlights the need for inclusive strategies to deepen not only emotional acceptance but also meaningful engagement and understanding of AI tools in higher education contexts.