Thinking Less, Clicking More: A Critical Investigation into the unseen Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Student Cognitive Development and Higher-Order Thinking Skills
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47067/ramss.v9i1.637Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Development, Higher-Order Thinking Skills, Independent Learning, Student Dependency, Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, Educational TechnologyAbstract
This study investigated the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage on students’ cognitive development, higher-order thinking skills, and independent learning behavior in academic environments. A quantitative research design was employed using a cross-sectional survey method, and data were collected from a sample of 235 students selected through simple random sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data, which was analyzed with the help of the statistical methods, such as correlation analysis, multiple regression, and Chi-square with the help of SPSS. The findings showed that there was a strong negative correlation between the use of AI and cognitive development (r = -0.462, p < 0.01), with greater use of AI tools correlating with less cognitive engagement. The multiple regression analysis also revealed that the use of AI had a significant negative impact on higher-order thinking skills (= -0.341, p < 0.001), and critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical abilities played a positive role in cognitive performance. Further, Chi-square test revealed that AI dependency had a significant association with independent learning behavior (2 = 36.582, p = 0.001) in which, students with higher AI dependency exhibited lower independent learning behavior. The results indicate that, despite the increase in academic efficiency, overuse of AI tools can impede intellectual growth and self-regulated learning skills of students. The paper concludes that AI must be employed as an aiding learning resource instead of a replacement of mental labor to guarantee equitable learning results in the contemporary education system.
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