The impact of artificial intelligence applications on developing levels of cognitive depth of information among postgraduate students
Open accessAbstract
This study explores the unique impact of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms—specifically ChatGPT—on developing cognitive depth among graduate students, distinguishing itself from previous research by focusing not only on academic achievement but also on higher-order thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. A quasi-experimental method was employed involving two experimental groups (n = 35) from the College of Education at King Khalid University. The first group (n = 17) received instruction through AI platforms, while the second group (n = 18) used traditional methods via the Blackboard system. Pre- and post-tests were conducted to measure cognitive depth using a validated instrument with a reliability coefficient of 0.89. Findings revealed statistically significant differences in favor of the AI group, who showed marked improvement in levels of recall, application, strategic thinking, and extended reasoning. The AI platforms’ features—such as personalized content, instant feedback, and interactive interfaces—contributed to enhanced critical and creative thinking and a more engaged learning experience. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of AI in deepening students' understanding and recommends its integration into university curricula. It also suggests faculty training and the development of AI-based assessment tools to further support digital-age learning needs.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Students using AI tools show significant gains in recall, comprehension, and basic application.
“Students using AI tools show significant gains in recall, comprehension, and basic application (Abdelmagid et al., 2025; Essien et al., 2024; Zhou et al., 2024), while higher-order skills including critical thinking, analysis, evaluation, and creative synthesis prove more vulnerable to erosion through cognitive offloading (Gerlich, 2025; Zhai et al., 2024).”
From Reimagining writing assessment for the AI era: a systematic review on balancing AI support and authentic skill growth (2026) · cites this paper as Abdelmagid et al., 2025
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
What Is the Impact of ChatGPT on Education? A Rapid Review of the Literature
Lo, C. K. (2023) · Education Sciences · doi:10.3390/educsci13040410 · Cited by 2,024 · see citing works
ChatGPT User Experience: Implications for Education
Zhai, X. (2023) · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4312418 · Cited by 935 · see citing works
ChatGPT in education: Strategies for responsible implementation
Halaweh, M. (2023) · Contemporary Educational Technology · doi:10.30935/cedtech/13036 · Cited by 607 · see citing works
Thomas, J., Jong, C., Fisher, M. H., & Schack, E. (2017) · The Mathematics Educator · doi:10.63301/tme.v26i2.2030 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 19
- References Abdel Aleem, Saudi, & Ibrahim, W. S. E. (2022). The effectiveness of a website based on the depth of knowledge model in developing levels of cognitive depth associated with the skills of using cloud computing applications among educational technology students. Educational Technology, 2(32), 3-47. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/16046 · DOI
- Abdul Latif, O. G., Mahdi, Y. H., & Ibrahim, S. K. (2020). The effectiveness of an artificial intelligence-based teaching system to develop a deep understanding of nuclear reactions and the ability to learn independently among secondary school students. Journal of Scientific Research in Education, 21(4), 307-349. https://doi.org/10.47750/pegegog.12.03.18 · DOI
- Abdullah, A. G. (2022). Using Google interactive applications in teaching mathematics to develop levels of depth of mathematical knowledge and technological literacy among first-year secondary school students. Journal of Mathematics Education, 25(1), 209-275. https://doi.org/10.21608/armin.2022.232845 · DOI
- Abu Muqaddam, R. A. (2024). The degree of use of artificial intelligence applications in self- learning among graduate students in Jordanian universities [Unpublished master's thesis]. Middle East University.
- Ali, S. A. H. (2021). Using a platform-based reciprocal teaching strategy and its impact on developing the skills of designing educational situations and the levels of depth http://ijlter.org/index.php/ijlter of knowledge for students of educational technology at the Faculty of Specific Education. Journal of the Faculty of Education, 45(1), 379-428. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14121323 · DOI
- Al-Lawzi, A. M., & Metwally, S. B. (2021). Employing e-learning anchors in teaching an educational assessment course to develop levels of depth of knowledge, evaluation competencies and professional self-affirmation for student teachers at the Faculty of Home Economics. Journal of the Faculty of Education, Sohag, 1(82), 313-406.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2014.05.003 · DOI
- Al-Muhammadi, G. A. (2020). Designing an adaptive learning environment based on artificial intelligence and its effectiveness in developing digital technology application skills in scientific research and future information awareness among gifted female students in secondary school [Unpublished PhD thesis]. Umm Al-Qura University.
- Al-Rashidi, S., & Al-Farani, L. (2024). The effectiveness of using the artificial intelligence program Typeset.io in developing scientific research skills and graduate students' attitudes towards it. International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 44(1), 136-170. https://doi.org/10.18576/isl/130304 · DOI
- Al-Ubaid, A. A. R. (2020). The effect of employing project-based learning to develop educational design skills for mobile learning and develop levels of depth of knowledge among e-learning diploma students at Princess Nourah bint Abdul Rahman University. Journal of the Association of Arab Universities, 18(2), 65-121. https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2019-0072 · DOI
- Dhikr Allah, A. (2022). The penetration of technology as a substitute for humans and its impact on the economy. In A. Amr (Ed.), Posthumanism -Virtual worlds and their impact on humans (pp. 205-229). Afak Al-Ma'rifa Publishing and Distribution Company.
- Fares, N. M. (2020). Using a learning environment based on content sharing networks and its impact on achievement, reflective thinking, and cognitive absorption among students of educational technology. Educational Journal, 79(1), 765-809. https://doi.org/10.58837/chula.educu.48.1.12 · DOI
- Hamed, M. A. (2024). The effect of smart educational support through an interactive website based on artificial intelligence on the development of the academic performance of graduate students. Journal of the Faculty of Education, 40(8), 2-91. https://doi.org/10.52098/airdj.202138 · DOI
- Hwang, G. J., & Chang, C. Y. (2024). The impact of AI-based learning systems on higher education: A systematic review. Computers & Education, 195, 104823. https://doi.org/10.21428/8c225f6e. · DOI
- Mansour, M. M. (2021). The effect of the difference in the two patterns of collaborative learning based on artificial intelligence through chatbot on the development of deep understanding skills and the ability to learn independently among students of the professional diploma in education. International Journal of E-Learning, 4(3), 357-437. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2019.1665571 · DOI
- Mohamed, H. R. (2021). Artificial intelligence systems and the future of education. Studies in University. Education, 52(52), 573-587. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030- 72080-3_4 · DOI
- Ritter, S., Murray, R. C., & Hausmann, R. G. (2018). Educational software design: Education, engagement, and productivity concerns. In R. D. Roscoe, S. D. Craig, & I. Douglas (Eds.), End-user considerations in educational technology design (pp. 35- 51). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-2639-1. · DOI
- Robertson, C. M. (2013). The mediating role of learning styles and strategies in the relationship between cognitive ability and academic performance [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Pretoria.
- Wamdat. (2020). Promoting the culture of innovation in preparation for the fifties. Wamdat Journal, 5(69), 13-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-61874-5_3 · DOI
- Zawacki-Richter, O., Dolch, C., & Qayyum, A. (2024). Artificial intelligence in higher education: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Educational Technology Research, 41(2), 112-130. https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi30.1137 · DOI · Paper page
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Abdellatif, M. S., Alshehri, M. A., Lamouchi, A., Rahmath, M., & Nemt-allah, M. A. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1809174
- Authors
- Abdelmagid, A. S., Al-Mohaya, A. Y., Ibrahim, A. M., Teleb, A. A., & Jabli, N. M.
- Affiliations
- King Khalid University (SA)
- ORCID
- Venue
- International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research
- Published
- 2025-04-30
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 316-333
- ISSN
- 1694-2116 (ISSN-L)
- 1694-2493
- OpenAlex
- W4410258175
- Cited by
- 6
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3
- FWCI
- 6.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- Locations
- International Journal of Learning Teaching and Educational Research (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- King Khalid University
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Artificial Intelligence in Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Health Informatics › Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Educational Technology and Pedagogy
- Keywords
- artificial intelligence in education, ChatGPT, cognitive depth, graduate students, higher-order thinking skills, AI in teaching, critical thinking, creative thinking, educational technology integration, faculty training, AI-assisted assessment
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review