Critical thinking in the AI era: An exploration of EFL students’ perceptions, benefits, and limitations

This study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ perceptions concerning both the benefits and limitations of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the context of critical thinking. Utilizing a qualitative research design that focuses on case studies and employs semi-structured interviews, seven master’s degree students from two different Indonesian universities were purposively selected for the sample. The findings revealed a complex view of critical thinking that involves questioning norms, analyzing context, and evaluating evidence. Students acknowledged AI’s utility in enriching various facets of critical thinking, such as academic research and theory scrutiny. However, concerns were also raised about AI’s limitations, including lack of personalization, potential for echo chambers, and difficulties in nuanced understanding. The study concludes that AI can be an asset in the development of critical thinking skills, but with caveats that require careful management. A balanced approach that capitalizes on AI’s strengths while being aware of its limitations is necessary for cultivating robust critical thinking abilities among EFL students. Limitations of the study include its reliance on self-reported data, which may introduce biases, and the heterogeneity in the participants’ backgrounds, affecting generalizability. Future research may consider more objective measures such as observations or psychometric tests, and investigate pedagogical methods for integrating critical thinking and AI applications effectively.

本研究旨在深入理解英语作为外语（English as a Foreign Language, EFL）学习者对人工智能（Artificial Intelligence, AI）在批判性思维语境下的优势与局限的认知。本研究采用聚焦个案研究的质性研究设计，并运用半结构化访谈方法，从印度尼西亚两所不同高校中目的性抽样选取了7名硕士研究生作为研究样本。研究结果揭示了批判性思维的多维内涵，其涵盖对规范的质疑、对语境的分析以及对证据的评估。学习者们肯定了AI在丰富批判性思维多个维度方面的效用，例如在学术研究与理论检视领域。然而，他们也对AI的局限性提出了担忧，包括缺乏个性化服务、存在信息茧房的潜在风险，以及难以实现精细化理解等问题。本研究得出结论：AI可成为培养批判性思维技能的宝贵助力，但同时也附带需谨慎管理的相关限制。要在发挥AI优势的同时明晰其局限性，采取平衡的研究路径，方能有效培养EFL学习者扎实的批判性思维能力。本研究的局限在于依赖自我报告数据，这可能引入偏差，且参与者背景存在异质性，影响了研究结果的可推广性。未来研究可考虑采用更客观的测量手段，如观察法或心理测量测验，并探究可有效融合批判性思维与AI应用的教学方法。

搜集汇总

背景与挑战

背景概述

该数据集研究了EFL学生对AI在批判性思维中应用的看法，揭示了AI在学术研究和理论分析中的益处，同时也指出了个性化不足、回声室效应和细微理解困难等局限性。研究强调了在EFL学生中培养批判性思维时，需要平衡AI的优势和局限性。