Two students from College of Western Idaho (CWI) earned top honors at a statewide psychology conference, standing out among undergraduate researchers from both two- and four-year institutions.
Psychology students, Lindsey Gardner and Ben Vogt, took first place at the Idaho Psychological Association Annual Conference on April 24. Their award-winning project, conducted through CWI’s Psi Beta Honor Society chapter, explored how personality traits influence the way students use artificial intelligence in academic settings.
Led by Gardner, the research uncovered several patterns. Students with higher levels of emotional stability were more comfortable using AI tools, suggesting confidence and adaptability may play a role in technology use. Those who scored high in conscientiousness tended to use AI more deliberately, relying on it as a support tool rather than using it to fully generate assignments. The study also found generational differences, with younger students reporting higher AI use, while older students were less likely to use AI and less certain about when its use is appropriate in academic work.
These findings come at a time when educators are working to integrate AI into classrooms while maintaining academic integrity. By examining both behavior and perception, Gardner and Vogt’s work offers insight into how students engage with AI and how institutions might respond.
The research team has been accepted to present additional findings at the American Psychological Association Convention this August, the largest psychology gathering in the nation. This next phase of the project will examine students’ perceptions of how much learning occurs when using AI, along with how moral disengagement varies across different levels of AI use.
Beyond the findings, the students’ achievement highlights the strength of community college research. Competing alongside students from four-year universities, Gardner and Vogt demonstrated the level of rigorous and impactful research being produced at CWI.
Both students plan to continue their education at Boise State University after graduating from CWI.
Psi Beta, the national honor society for psychology students at two-year colleges, supports research opportunities like this one and encourages early academic involvement.
For those interested in joining Psi Beta Honor Society are encouraged to contact Heather Schoenherr at heatherschoenherr@cwi.edu for more information on eligibility and involvement.
