OPERATIONALISATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN VALUES AND ETHICAL EDUCATION IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study investigated the Operationalisation of Artificial Intelligence in Values and Ethical Education in Tertiary Institutions in Rivers State. A descriptive survey research design was adopted.

The population for this study comprised 1,234 lecturers from in Tertiary Institutions in Rivers State

(612 from University of Port Harcourt, 378 from Rivers State University, and 244 from Ignatius Ajuru University of Education). Taro Yamane's formula established a sample of 302 lecturers. Stratified random sampling was used to ensure proportional representation across faculties and departments, and to maintain academic rank balance. A questionnaire titled: Artificial Intelligence in Values and Ethics Education Questionnaire (AIVEEQ) was designed on a four-point Likert scale format from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree with 15-items. Three experts in Measurement and Evaluation (Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling) from Ignatius Ajuru University of Education validated the instrument. The reliability index of 0.86 was achieved using Cronbach Alpha method. Out of the 302 copies of the questionnaire administered, 287 were retrieved, giving a retrieval rate of 95%. Mean and standard deviation answered research questions and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), tested hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The study found a significant difference in the role AI plays in shaping students' ethical behaviour, there is a statistically significant difference in the types of AI tools used to promote ethical education and there is a statistically significant difference in the use of AI to explain moral and ethical issues among lecturers in UNIPORT, RSU and IAUE. Researchers recommended among others that university administrators should be intentional in customizing AI ethics policies that reflect their unique institutional culture and student behavioral needs.