Generative AI tools boost critical thinking in design students: a randomized trial

In an RCT of 63 undergraduate arts/design students, those using Generative AI (image + LLM) during a sketching workshop showed significantly greater gains in critical thinking disposition (p<0.01, Cohen's d=0.70). Gains persisted after baseline adjustment and were driven by iter…

• Design: Two-week landscape sketching workshop; experimental group (n=31) used GenAI tools (image generation, LLMs) for idea generation and refinement; control group (n=32) did not. Measured via standardized critical thinking scale.
• Primary outcome: Significantly larger improvement in critical thinking disposition in the GenAI group (p < 0.01, d = 0.70). ANCOVA confirmed significance after controlling for baseline scores.
• Limitation: Small single‑institution sample of arts/design undergraduates — no radiologists were studied, limiting direct applicability to radiology education.

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