STRUCTURAL MODEL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USE, ACADEMIC MOTIVATION, AND ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

José Manuel Burga Falla, Nilo Ojanama Guriz, Graciela Romero Arias, Aldo Aguayo-Melendez, Edita Huamán Nalvarte, Alicia Roxana Chávez-Somoza · Research (2026) · DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19474932

Resumen

The aim of this study was to analyze a structural model relating artificial intelligence use, academic motivation, and academic engagement among university students, in order to determine the direct and indirect relationships among these variables in the context of higher education. The theoretical framework is grounded in self-determination theory, the threedimensional model of academic engagement, and contemporary perspectives on artificial intelligence within digital culture, which emphasize its role not only as a technological tool but also as a transformative element in educational and social practices. The research followed a quantitative approach with a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and explanatory design. The sample consisted of university students who use generative artificial intelligence tools for academic purposes. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire assessing artificial intelligence use, academic motivation, and academic engagement, and were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results showed that artificial intelligence use positively influences both academic motivation and academic engagement, with academic motivation acting as a partial mediator in this relationship. These findings suggest that the pedagogical integration of artificial intelligence contributes not only to learning processes but also to the configuration of digital culture in higher education, influencing how students interact with knowledge and develop academic involvement. The originality of the study lies in the empirical validation of a structural model that integrates technological, psychoeducational, and sociocultural dimensions to explain student engagement.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán; Universidad César Vallejo; Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de América Latina; Universidad Privada del Norte