Research
Study Overview¶
The instructor of this course, Dr. Trevor Bonjour (UC San Diego), is conducting a research study. The purpose of this study is to understand how students experience an introductory AI course that uses a neural-networks-first approach. The study examines:
Perceptions of course difficulty, pacing, and workload
Confidence in learning AI concepts
How prior coding and mathematics experience relate to engagement and learning
Required Course Activities vs. Research Use of Data¶
The surveys are required as part of the course. However, using this data for research is optional.
Completing surveys is required for the course
Allowing your data to be used for research is voluntary
If you opt out at any time, your data will not be used for research purposes
Opting out does not affect your grade, standing, or access to course resources
What Participation May Involve¶
If you allow your data to be used for research, this may include:
Pre-course survey (5–10 minutes)
Weekly “one-minute-paper” surveys
Post-course survey (5–10 minutes)
Optional interview: You may be invited to participate in a short, optional interview after completing the course. This interview will focus on your learning experience, perceptions, and reflections on the neural-networks-first approach used in the Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course. These interviews allow for more in-depth discussions and will allow students to share their experiences and perspectives in greater detail. With your permission, the interview will be audio recorded for transcription and analysis purposes.
Participation lasts approximately the length of the course.
Eligibility¶
This research includes only participants who are 18 years of age or older
If you are under 18, your data will automatically not be used for research
No action is required if you are under 18
Voluntary Participation and Opting Out¶
Research participation is voluntary
You may opt out at any time during the quarter
You may skip any question
If you opt out, all past and future course data will be excluded from the research dataset
Privacy and Confidentiality¶
To protect your privacy:
Your responses will be anonymized using a unique participant ID.
Any audio recordings will be stored securely on encrypted servers and accessed only by authorized research team members.
Your responses will be shared only in de-identified, aggregated form (e.g., summary statistics) and will not contain any personally identifying information.
The de-identified data may be retained indefinitely and used for future research.
How to Opt Out¶
If you do not want your survey data used for research, complete the opt-out form below.
Questions¶
If you have questions about this study or your rights as a participant, please contact Trevor Bonjour: tbonjour@ucsd.edu.