Understanding Student Use of AI for Research Assistance
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Dear UNBC student,
We are undertaking a research project and we need your help! We want to gain a better understanding of university students and their information seeking behaviour, specifically how you seek research help. We want to know about your preferences and to what extent you use AI for research help or conducting research. These questions are being asked to help us understand your preferences and how we can improve our services, which are geared towards you and your academic success!
Why are you being asked to take part in this study? What is the purpose?
We need your participation to understand university student preferences for getting research help. The proposed study seeks to gain an understanding into the changing nature of the information and help seeking behaviour of university students and to what degree the availability and growing capacity of AI is fueling this change. The results of this evidence-based study will inform the future direction and function of research help services in academic libraries. This is a pilot study to explore the use of the attached survey for potential use at other academic institutions.
You are being asked to complete a short survey of approximately 17 questions, taking approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. While we are not collecting personal information, demographic questions will be asked relating to your year of study, age, and your faculty affiliation. The remainder of the questions will be about your information seeking behaviour and use of AI. These questions will help us to identify student preferences and how those preferences can lead to service changes both here and at other academic libraries.
Risks or benefits to participating in the project
There are no anticipated risks to completing this survey. Your participation will impact how academic libraries develop research assistance services, potentially benefitting you and your peers.
Confidentiality, Anonymity and Data Storage:
Only the principal investigator and the co-investigators will have access to the survey results. The data associated with the survey will be accessed through UNBC’s instance of SurveyMonkey. Please do not to put any identifiable information in the open text boxes, as the intent of the survey is to be anonymous. Consent for participation and consent to be entered into the draw will be stored separately. All electronic files will be stored on a secure server (UNBC MS OneDrive) and on an external drive that is encrypted and password protected. Information generated from this study will be securely disposed of after 10 years.
Participant Consent and Withdrawal
By beginning this survey, you are consenting to participate in this project. At any point during the survey, you may choose to stop. Participation in the research is voluntary. Participants can refuse to answer any questions, and that they have a right to withdraw from the study at any time up until submitting their survey, after which the data is unidentifiable and cannot be withdrawn. Because survey results are fully anonymous, you will not be able to withdraw your consent after completing the survey and clicking yes to submit. By clicking “Yes”, you are giving your final consent. You can save a copy of this informed consent letter by following this link: (link informed consent letter in PDF form, to be hosted on UNBC OneDrive). Participation in this study will not impact services provided by the researchers in their librarian roles.
Compensation
Once the survey is complete, you will have the option of entering your name in a draw for one of two $500 cash prizes to be drawn at the end of each term during the study period (December 1, 2026). The entry form for this draw is separate from the survey results, and your contact information will be kept separate from your survey answers. This information will be destroyed once the draw winner has been selected. Funding for the cash prizes has been provided by the library. Participants may only complete the survey and enter the draw once. Duplicate submissions and entries will be removed by the researchers.
Study Results
The data obtained from this study will be used to assess and inform the provision and development of research help services in academic libraries. Survey submissions containing incomplete data will be deleted and any / all responses therein will not be included in the analysis. Data from this project may be analyzed at a later date to answer future research questions relating to this topic and to assess changes in student attitudes and use of AI in seeking research assistance. Data from this research may be used in the form of journal articles, academic presentations, and / or poster sessions in the future. An info graphic will be created and posted to the library webpage.
Questions, Concerns or Complaints about the Project
If you have any questions about what we are asking of you, please contact the Principal Investigator or Co-Investigators listed below.
Kealin McCabe, Research and Learning Services Librarian (Principal Investigator) UNBC Library | Kealin.McCabe@unbc.ca | 250-960-6473
Heather Empey, Acquisitions Librarian (Co-Investigator) UNBC Library | Heather.Empey@unbc.ca | 250-960-6468
Terri McKellar, Knowledge Synthesis Librarian (Co-Investigator)
UNBC Library | Terri.McKellar@unbc.ca
Susie Wilson, Data Services Librarian (Co-Investigator)
UNBC Library | Susie.Wilson@unbc.ca | 250-960-6607
Consent
By selecting “Yes” at the bottom of the bottom of the survey, you are acknowledging that you have read the information letter above, agree to the use of your data for potential future studies (10 years), and do not have any further questions about this project.
This study has been reviewed by the UNBC Research Ethics Board (#6010404). Any concerns or complaints can be directed to reb@unbc.ca or by phone to 250-960-6735.
We are undertaking a research project and we need your help! We want to gain a better understanding of university students and their information seeking behaviour, specifically how you seek research help. We want to know about your preferences and to what extent you use AI for research help or conducting research. These questions are being asked to help us understand your preferences and how we can improve our services, which are geared towards you and your academic success!
Why are you being asked to take part in this study? What is the purpose?
We need your participation to understand university student preferences for getting research help. The proposed study seeks to gain an understanding into the changing nature of the information and help seeking behaviour of university students and to what degree the availability and growing capacity of AI is fueling this change. The results of this evidence-based study will inform the future direction and function of research help services in academic libraries. This is a pilot study to explore the use of the attached survey for potential use at other academic institutions.
You are being asked to complete a short survey of approximately 17 questions, taking approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. While we are not collecting personal information, demographic questions will be asked relating to your year of study, age, and your faculty affiliation. The remainder of the questions will be about your information seeking behaviour and use of AI. These questions will help us to identify student preferences and how those preferences can lead to service changes both here and at other academic libraries.
Risks or benefits to participating in the project
There are no anticipated risks to completing this survey. Your participation will impact how academic libraries develop research assistance services, potentially benefitting you and your peers.
Confidentiality, Anonymity and Data Storage:
Only the principal investigator and the co-investigators will have access to the survey results. The data associated with the survey will be accessed through UNBC’s instance of SurveyMonkey. Please do not to put any identifiable information in the open text boxes, as the intent of the survey is to be anonymous. Consent for participation and consent to be entered into the draw will be stored separately. All electronic files will be stored on a secure server (UNBC MS OneDrive) and on an external drive that is encrypted and password protected. Information generated from this study will be securely disposed of after 10 years.
Participant Consent and Withdrawal
By beginning this survey, you are consenting to participate in this project. At any point during the survey, you may choose to stop. Participation in the research is voluntary. Participants can refuse to answer any questions, and that they have a right to withdraw from the study at any time up until submitting their survey, after which the data is unidentifiable and cannot be withdrawn. Because survey results are fully anonymous, you will not be able to withdraw your consent after completing the survey and clicking yes to submit. By clicking “Yes”, you are giving your final consent. You can save a copy of this informed consent letter by following this link: (link informed consent letter in PDF form, to be hosted on UNBC OneDrive). Participation in this study will not impact services provided by the researchers in their librarian roles.
Compensation
Once the survey is complete, you will have the option of entering your name in a draw for one of two $500 cash prizes to be drawn at the end of each term during the study period (December 1, 2026). The entry form for this draw is separate from the survey results, and your contact information will be kept separate from your survey answers. This information will be destroyed once the draw winner has been selected. Funding for the cash prizes has been provided by the library. Participants may only complete the survey and enter the draw once. Duplicate submissions and entries will be removed by the researchers.
Study Results
The data obtained from this study will be used to assess and inform the provision and development of research help services in academic libraries. Survey submissions containing incomplete data will be deleted and any / all responses therein will not be included in the analysis. Data from this project may be analyzed at a later date to answer future research questions relating to this topic and to assess changes in student attitudes and use of AI in seeking research assistance. Data from this research may be used in the form of journal articles, academic presentations, and / or poster sessions in the future. An info graphic will be created and posted to the library webpage.
Questions, Concerns or Complaints about the Project
If you have any questions about what we are asking of you, please contact the Principal Investigator or Co-Investigators listed below.
Kealin McCabe, Research and Learning Services Librarian (Principal Investigator) UNBC Library | Kealin.McCabe@unbc.ca | 250-960-6473
Heather Empey, Acquisitions Librarian (Co-Investigator) UNBC Library | Heather.Empey@unbc.ca | 250-960-6468
Terri McKellar, Knowledge Synthesis Librarian (Co-Investigator)
UNBC Library | Terri.McKellar@unbc.ca
Susie Wilson, Data Services Librarian (Co-Investigator)
UNBC Library | Susie.Wilson@unbc.ca | 250-960-6607
Consent
By selecting “Yes” at the bottom of the bottom of the survey, you are acknowledging that you have read the information letter above, agree to the use of your data for potential future studies (10 years), and do not have any further questions about this project.
This study has been reviewed by the UNBC Research Ethics Board (#6010404). Any concerns or complaints can be directed to reb@unbc.ca or by phone to 250-960-6735.