Claims

Across three physics assessments, students who declared GenAI use scored slightly higher than non-users, but none of the differences were statistically significant

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (3 entries) · associational r1 · q2 · i0–i2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims

Reading the evidence codes

q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.

This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.

q2 i2 In the scaffolded presentation (A1), GenAI users scored 15.76 ± 1.06 versus 14.80 ± 1.08 for non-users, a moderate effect size (Cohen's d = 0.63) that was not statistically significant. → Zachery Quince and Emily Faulconer 2026 q2 i0 In the lab workbook (A2), users achieved a mean of 41.18 ± 3.64 versus 40.60 ± 4.95 for non-users, a negligible effect (d = 0.12), not significant. → Zachery Quince and Emily Faulconer 2026 (2) q2 i0 In the final take-home exam (A3), users performed slightly better (23.44 ± 2.23 vs. 22.77 ± 3.73; d = 0.19), not significant. → Zachery Quince and Emily Faulconer 2026 (3)

Evidence

Zachery Quince and Emily Faulconer 2026

Zachery Quince and Emily Faulconer. (2026). Student GenAI use under changing institutional policies: a mixed-methods case study in undergraduate physics. International Journal of STEM Education. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-026-00651-w

q2 · i2 · associational · r1

Observational comparison of assessment grades in a single-case study of an undergraduate physics unit; Table 6 reports the contrast as "Not significant (P > 0.05)" with "Cohen's d = 0.63" for the A1 presentation (marked /20).

"The scaffolded presentation (A1), GenAI users scored 15.76 ± 1.06 compared with 14.80 ± 1.08 for non-users, yielding a moderate effect size (Cohen's d = 0.63)"

Zachery Quince and Emily Faulconer 2026 (2)

Zachery Quince and Emily Faulconer. (2026). Student GenAI use under changing institutional policies: a mixed-methods case study in undergraduate physics. International Journal of STEM Education. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-026-00651-w

q2 · i0 · associational · r1

Assessment-level comparison of percentage-converted marks for the A2 laboratory workbook (/50) in the same case study; the article reports the difference as "indicating a negligible effect" and not significant (P > 0.05).

"In the lab workbook (A2), users achieved a mean of 41.18 ± 3.64, while non-users averaged 40.60 ± 4.95 (d = 0.12), indicating a negligible effect."

Zachery Quince and Emily Faulconer 2026 (3)

Zachery Quince and Emily Faulconer. (2026). Student GenAI use under changing institutional policies: a mixed-methods case study in undergraduate physics. International Journal of STEM Education. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-026-00651-w

q2 · i0 · associational · r1

Assessment-level comparison for the A3 take-home quiz (/30) in the same case study; Table 6 reports "Not significant (P > 0.05)" with Cohen's d = 0.19.

"In the final take-home exam (A3), users again performed slightly better (23.44 ± 2.23 vs. 22.77 ± 3.73; d = 0.19)."

Discussion

Page metadata
Field Value
type claim
id genai-users-slightly-higher-scores-not-significant-physics
title Across three physics assessments, students who declared GenAI use scored slightly higher than non-users, but none of the differences were statistically significant
description Across three physics assessments, students who declared GenAI use scored slightly higher than non-users, but none of the differences were statistically significant
status review
evidence_strength moderate
newest_evidence 2026
generated by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-10
trust unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources 3 — zachery-quince-and-emily-faulconer-2026, zachery-quince-and-emily-faulconer-2026-2, zachery-quince-and-emily-faulconer-2026-3

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