AI-Induced Skill Atrophy Concern
HR & WorkReliability: alpha 0.873 sample items
About this scale
A multi-item measure of concern that reliance on AI tools is eroding one's own skills and abilities. Important in cognitive-offloading and learning research.
Sample item(s)
“I worry that using AI is making me a worse writer”
“I am concerned my problem-solving skills are weakening because of AI”
“Relying on AI may be undermining my ability to think for myself”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: alpha 0.87. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Pair with AI over-reliance and metacognitive measures.
Source & citation
Gerlich, M. (2025): AI tools in society: Impacts on cognitive offloading and the future of critical thinking. Societies, Vol. 15, No. 1, Article 6.
Gerlich (2025): AI tools and cognitive offloading. Societies, 15(1), 6.
Source. Scale details are summarised from the publication cited above. Always consult the original source for the full item set, scoring, and permission to use.
Use it in your research
Need to check the reliability or psychometrics of this scale in your own data? Use the free DrAIStudio research tools:
Cronbach’s alpha calculator
All statistical calculators
Search the full Scale Atlas
Academic writing humanizer