Perceptions and attitudes towards artificial intelligence tools among Indian higher education students examined through a contextualised scale

Abstract This study presents the development and psychometric validation of a multidimensional AI Perception and Attitude Scale tailored to the Indian higher education context. With the growing emphasis on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academia, particularly under India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, understanding student perceptions is critical. A structured survey of 187 students measured eight perception dimensions and one attitudinal dimension. Principal component analysis yielded a robust five-component model comprising Academic Utility, Institutional Support, Ethical Considerations, Learning Impact, and Technical Trust, accounting for 66.73% of the variance. Subsequent analyses used the original eight-dimensional framework to deliver a detailed, theoretically based assessment whilst recognising the five-component empirical structure. Reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s α > 0.81) confirmed strong internal consistency across all subscales. Students reported generally positive perceptions (means 3.47–3.71), with particularly favourable responses for Academic Utility and Learning Impact. Regression analyses indicated that Institutional Support and Learning Impact were the strongest predictors of attitudes towards AI. Statistically significant differences were observed by gender and semester, whereas age-related differences were not significant. The findings underscore the significance of institutional encouragement, pedagogical relevance, and a supportive academic culture in promoting AI adoption, offering actionable insights for policy formulation, curriculum design, and faculty development in Indian higher education.