College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2026-04-28 12:33:20
Major
Adolescent to Young Adult
Honors Course
EDCI 431
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts in Education
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2026
Abstract
The purpose of this Honors Research Project was to examine how Artificial Intelligence (AI) impacts the quality of student writing and to provide educators with insight into how AI-assisted work may differ from independently produced writing. This study includes a review of current literature on the growing use of AI in education, along with concerns related to student dependence and the limitations of AI-detection software. Anonymous archived student writing samples were then analyzed using a researcher-developed rubric that measured grammatical accuracy, sentence complexity, vocabulary, organization, use of evidence, and voice/originality. Results showed that AI-assisted writing consistently performed strongly in grammatical accuracy and often improved sentence structure skills. However, higher-order writing skills such as organization, evidence, and originality were generally weaker in AI-assisted samples than in independently written work. Overall, the findings suggest that AI can be a helpful tool for improving lower-order writing skills, but it is less effective in developing the critical thinking and originality necessary for strong academic writing.
Research Sponsor
Dr. William Visco
First Reader
Elizabeth Rhoades
Second Reader
Harold Foster
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. William Visco
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Community Engaged Scholarship
No
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Sydney S., "High School Students’ Uses of AI in the Writing Process: A Qualitative Study" (2026). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2126.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2126