Evaluating the Impact of AI-Enhanced Adaptive Learning on Critical Thinking Skills in Social Studies: Benefits and Challenges for Nigerian Universities

Ijioma; Iheanyi Chukwu PhD

doi:10.56201/wjimt.v9.no9.2025.pg49.59

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Evaluating the Impact of AI-Enhanced Adaptive Learning on Critical Thinking Skills in Social Studies: Benefits and Challenges for Nigerian Universities

Ijioma, Iheanyi Chukwu PhD

Abstract

This study examined the impact of AI-enhanced adaptive learning platforms on critical thinking skills among Social Studies students in Nigerian universities. Three research questions guide the study, while three hypotheses were formulated and tested at a 0.05 significance level. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised 184 social studies students and 33 social studies lecturers; a whole 217 was used for the study; the purposive sampling technique was employed. A researcher-developed questionnaire titled “Social Studies Teachers’ and Students’ Perceptions of AI-Enhanced Adaptive Learning Questionnaire” (SSTSPAALQ). The questionnaire had three clusters, A, B and C and was validated by three experts in the field of education and subjected to reliability testing using Cronbach’s alpha, which returned reliability coefficients of 0.68, .081 and 0.86, respectively, for the three clusters. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions, while t-test statistics were used to test hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level for acceptance or rejection. Findings from the study revealed a high extent to which AI-enhanced adaptive learning platforms impact the development of critical thinking skills among Social Studies students, AI platforms help students connect theoretical concepts in Social Studies to real-life civic issues and also that lack of reliable internet access and inadequate institutional support for adopting AI tools were the major challenges hindering effective implementation of AI-enhanced adaptive learning. The study recommended, among others, that Universities should invest in training Social Studies teachers to effectively use AI tools to foster critical thinking, ensuring they are equipped to maximise the benefits of these technologies in teaching and learning.

Keywords

Artificial intelligenceadaptive learningcritical thinkingSocial StudiesNigerian

References

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Evaluating the Impact of AI-Enhanced Adaptive Learning on Critical Thinking Skills in Social Studies: Benefits and Challenges for Nigerian Universities

Abstract

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