The Six-Facet Artificial Intelligence Literacy Questionnaire (SFAILQ): Assessing AI Literacy in Adolescents, Young...

AI literacy has become a pressing concern across disciplines, calling for comprehensive measurement tools applicable to diverse age groups. Building on existing research, we propose a six-facet model encompassing affective experiences, usage skills, cognitive evaluation, ethical norms, responsible use, and self-development. The present study aimed to develop and validate the Six-Facet Artificial Intelligence Literacy Questionnaire (SFAILQ) among 2443 Chinese participants aged 12 to 60 years, spanning adolescence to middle adulthood, with a disproportionately larger proportion falling within the 18-to-40 age range. An item reduction analysis was conducted using the first split-half sample (N₁ = 1217), and reliability and validity analyses were performed with the second split-half sample (N₂ = 1226). The final SFAILQ consists of 32 items assessing six dimensions: affective experiences (5 items), usage skills (5 items), cognitive evaluation (6 items), ethical norms (6 items), responsible use (4 items), and self-development (6 items). All six dimensions and the total score correlated significantly and positively with academic self-efficacy (usage skills showing the strongest correlation) and with academic engagement (responsible use demonstrating the highest correlation). The SFAILQ demonstrated high internal consistency, construct validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity. It may serve as an effective tool for evaluating AI literacy among adolescents, young adults, and midlife adults.