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) · associationalr1·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¶
Related Claims¶
- ChatGPT was the most used GenAI tool across all three physics assessments, with Copilot a distant second — related
- Exam environment critically moderates GenAI learning effects: significant large gains when GenAI is permitted during assessment (g = 0.76) versus non-significant slightly negative effects when it is not (g = -0.06). — related
- Student GenAI use patterns shifted across assessments: Learning and Formatting dominated under purpose-specific use, while Feedback became the dominant use (66.7%) under open use — related
- Descriptive user-study patterns that the authors read as GPT output possibly scaffolding IVDA students and reducing CV students' performance, an interpretation by prior knowledge that the study did not measure — related
- Within-user exercise accuracy does not differ significantly between high- and low-score sessions — related
- Approximately two-thirds of teacher education students chose not to adopt GenAI in assessments even when its use was allowed — related
- CLASP students' MCAT Physical Science scores were slightly higher than Physics 5 students', but the difference was not statistically significant; Biological Science scores were identical on average — related
- Students who used LLMs on assignments scored significantly lower than non-users on the first midterm (large effect size), but this gap narrowed and was non-significant on the later midterms — reports the opposite
- Students received significantly higher homework scores during GenAI-evaluation periods, but this advantage did not transfer to downstream exams — related
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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