Thesis:

The mediating role of self-regulation in the relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and social support with cognitive engagement in high school students

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of artificial intelligence technology use on critical thinking with the mediating role of online educational interaction among educational sciences students at Islamic Azad University, Sabzevar Branch. The study was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-correlational in terms of research method, using structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of educational sciences students at Islamic Azad University, Sabzevar Branch, from whom 220 students were selected as the research sample. Data were collected using the Chatterjee (2020) Artificial Intelligence Use in Education Questionnaire, the Online Teacher-Student Interaction Questionnaire developed by Hosseinzadeh et al. (2021), and the Rajaei (2014) Critical Thinking Skills Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software through descriptive statistics, normality testing, Pearson correlation coefficient, and structural equation modeling. The results showed a positive and significant relationship between artificial intelligence technology use and online educational interaction. Artificial intelligence technology use also had a positive and significant direct effect on critical thinking. Furthermore, online educational interaction had a positive and significant effect on critical thinking. The Bootstrap analysis indicated that the indirect effect of artificial intelligence technology use on critical thinking through online educational interaction was statistically significant. Since both the direct and indirect effects were significant, online educational interaction played a partial mediating role in the relationship between artificial intelligence technology use and critical thinking. Overall, the findings indicate that purposeful use of artificial intelligence technology, along with strengthening educational interactions in online learning environments, can contribute to enhancing students' critical thinking skills.

Keywords: Keywords: Academic Self-Efficacy, Social Support, Academic Self-Regulation, Student Engagement, Upper-Secondary School Students