Work

Determinants of Critical Thinking in the AI Era: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy in Digital Literacy and Students’ Social Interaction

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The importance of critical thinking in higher education has become increasingly prominent amid the rapid advancement of digital technology and artificial intelligence. This study aims to examine the effects of social interaction and digital literacy on students’ critical thinking skills, with self-efficacy serving as a mediating variable. Employing a quantitative approach with path analysis, data were collected from 650 university students during the 2024/2025 academic year and analyzed using SmartPLS. The results indicate that self-efficacy has a significant effect on critical thinking (β = 0.455, p < 0.001) and functions as a mediator linking digital literacy (β = 0.286, p < 0.001) and social interaction (β = 0.166, p = 0.001) to critical thinking ability. Furthermore, digital literacy exerts a significant indirect effect on critical thinking through the enhancement of self-efficacy (indirect effect = 0.234, p < 0.001). These findings underscore that strengthening digital literacy and social interaction within educational curricula, along with fostering students’ self-efficacy, can effectively enhance critical thinking skills, which are essential for addressing academic and professional challenges in the digital era.

Source: Buletin Konseling Inovatif

DOI: 10.17977/2797-9954.1040

Authors: Annisa Arrumaisyah Daulay, Atikah Asna, Devi Eka Yulita Br Tarigan

Institutions: North Sumatra Islamic University, Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara, Medan Area University

Language: English

Topic: Education and Critical Thinking Development

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7128912842

FWCI:

Cites:

Cited by:

Related to: