Impact of Generative AI on University Students' Learning Processes and Critical Thinking

NCT07762261 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2026/06-12
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study is a randomized, controlled trial with a pre-test/post-test design, conducted to determine the effects of Generative AI (GenAI)-supported learning on academic achievement, learning efficiency, and critical thinking within a university setting. The study population consists of students from the Dialysis Program at Bingöl University's Vocational School of Health Services; the sample comprises 100 volunteer students who met the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=50) or a control group (n=50). The experimental group will participate in a "Generative AI-Supported Learning Program" over the course of one month-meeting two days a week for a total of eight 60-minute sessions-covering topics ranging from effective prompting techniques to case analysis and academic ethics; meanwhile, the control group will continue with their routine educational activities. Data will be collected using a Demographic Information Form, the Academic Achievement Inventory, the Critical Thinking Disposition Scale, and the Artificial Intelligence Dependency Scale, and will be analyzed using biostatistical methods (t-tests, ANCOVA, and effect size calculations).

Conditions

Education; Academic Performance; Learning Efficiency; Generative Artificial Intelligence

Keywords

Generative Artificial Intelligence; Artificial Intelligence in Education; Academic Success; Learning Efficiency; Critical Thinking

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Academic Achievement

  Academic success will be assessed using the Academic Success Inventory for College Students (ASICS), developed by Prevatt et al. (2011) and adapted into Turkish by Orçanlı, Bekmezci, and Boztoprak (2021). The Turkish version consists of 46 items across 9 dimensions. Items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree). Seventeen negatively worded items are reverse scored. The total score ranges from 46 to 322, and the unit of measurement is points. Higher scores indicate a higher level of academic success orientation and academic functioning.

  Baseline (Week 0) and immediately after the intervention (Week 4)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Critical Thinking Disposition

  Baseline (Week 0) and immediately after the intervention (Week 4)

Study Arms (2)

Generative AI-Supported Education

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the intervention group will receive a 4-week generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)-supported educational program integrated into the course curriculum. Students will use generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to support learning course content, develop study materials, solve subject-specific problems, access information, and enhance critical thinking skills under structured guidance and educational instructions provided by the researchers. The intervention will be delivered in 8 sessions over 4 weeks, with two sessions per week.

Behavioral: Behavioral

Standard Education

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the control group will continue to receive the standard/traditional educational program for 4 weeks. No study-specific training, guidance, or structured intervention regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence tools will be provided. The course content, curriculum, educational duration, and assessment methods will be the same as those of the intervention group; however, generative AI-supported learning activities will not be implemented.

Interventions

Behavioral BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the intervention group will receive a 4-week generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)-supported educational program integrated into the course curriculum. Students will use generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to support learning course content, develop study materials, solve subject-specific problems, access information, and enhance critical thinking skills under structured guidance and educational instructions provided by the researchers. The intervention will be delivered in 8 sessions over 4 weeks, with two sessions per week.

Generative AI-Supported Education

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Months - 25 Months
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Being an active undergraduate student enrolled in the university program/course during the study period
• Willingness to voluntarily participate in the study and providing written informed consent
• Having regular access to a digital device (e.g., smartphone, laptop, tablet) and an internet connection
• Basic digital literacy to use educational software and AI tools
• Agreeing to complete all course activities, pre-tests, and post-test

You may not qualify if:

• Prior formal or advanced training in generative AI tools (e.g., prompt engineering certification)
• Transfer students or students repeating the course who have prior experience with the course material
• Having cognitive, visual, or physical impairments that prevent participation in online learning or completing evaluation surveys
• Unwillingness to participate in the study or withdrawing consent at any stage
• Missing more than 20% of the course sessions or failing to complete the outcome assessment tools (pre-test/post-test)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ataturk University: lead
• Bingol University: collaborator

Central Study Contacts

Mahmut Çoban, phd

CONTACT

+905387022343; mahmutcoban@bingol.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: This study employs a two-arm, parallel-group, pretest-posttest experimental (or quasi-experimental) design. Participants are assigned to either the Intervention Group (Generative AI-assisted learning approach) or the Control Group (traditional/standard learning methods). Outcomes, including academic achievement, learning efficiency, and critical thinking skills, are measured before and immediately after the educational intervention

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 4, 2026
• First Posted: August 13, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Last Updated: August 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share