EXPLORING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AWARENESS, PERCEPTION AND USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS AMONG LINGUISTIC LECTURERS IN THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between awareness, perception, and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications among Linguistic Lecturers in Nigerian universities. Guided by two research questions and two null hypotheses tested at a 0.05 significance level, the study employed a correlational survey design involving 154 Linguistic Lecturers selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire distributed electronically and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) in SPSS. Results revealed statistically significant positive relationships between both awareness (r = 0.263, p = 0.001) and perception (r = 0.266, p = 0.001) with AI tool usage. While lecturers demonstrated moderately positive awareness (M = 3.21) and perception (M = 3.12) scores, actual usage was slightly lower (M = 2.98), indicating a perception-usage gap attributed to infrastructural challenges and insufficient training. The study concludes that while positive perceptions and awareness drive AI adoption, systemic barriers hinder full implementation. Recommendations include developing institutional AI policies, enhancing technological infrastructure, implementing targeted training programs, establishing peer mentorship initiatives, and creating national frameworks for AI integration in higher education. These findings contribute to understanding technology adoption dynamics in developing educational contexts and provide actionable strategies for improving AI utilization in Nigerian universities.