Leveraging Network Analytics to Examine the Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Feedback on Inquiry-Based Discussion

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Leveraging Network Analytics to Examine the Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Feedback on Inquiry-Based Discussion
Language: English
Authors: Shen Ba (ORCID 0000-0001-6535-8335), Guoqing Lu, Norman Biliwang Mendoza (ORCID 0000-0003-0344-0709), Yin Yang, Zilong Pan (ORCID 0000-0001-7641-0362), Yu Wang
Source: Journal of Educational Computing Research. 2026 64(2):403-438.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 36
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Network Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Technology Uses in Education, Feedback (Response), Inquiry, Discussion, Preservice Teachers, Preservice Teacher Education, Foreign Countries, Self Efficacy, Computer Mediated Communication, Performance Factors, Thinking Skills
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1177/07356331251396357
ISSN: 0735-6331
1541-4140
Abstract: In inquiry-based discussion (IBD), it is essential to provide participants with effective feedback to promote engagement in knowledge construction and enhance the development of higher-order thinking. However, university instructors often struggle with monitoring multiple groups and delivering prompt and personalized feedback. Generative artificial intelligence (GAI), which can analyze text data and generate humanlike responses, offers potential solutions to mitigate these challenges. This study investigates the influence of GAI-assisted feedback on the IBD processes of pre-service teachers. A quasi-experiment was conducted with two classes (experimental: n = 53; control: n = 55) at a Chinese university. Epistemic network analysis was employed to model group IBD processes and compare groups with different characteristics (e.g., with/without GAI-assisted feedback, high/low engagement, high/low performance). Results show that GAI-assisted feedback significantly altered IBD dynamics. Collaboration self-efficacy was crucial for distinguishing group interaction patterns with the GAI chatbot. Moreover, groups in the experimental condition with high or low learning performance, engagement, and cognitive load showed diverse IBD interaction patterns. For example, groups with higher performance relied heavily on the GAI chatbot for idea generation without significant improvements in higher-order thinking. This study contributes detailed, process-oriented insights and implications on the adoption of GAI tools in IBD contexts.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1496970
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1496970
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Leveraging Network Analytics to Examine the Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Feedback on Inquiry-Based Discussion
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shen+Ba%22">Shen Ba</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6535-8335">0000-0001-6535-8335</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Guoqing+Lu%22">Guoqing Lu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Norman+Biliwang+Mendoza%22">Norman Biliwang Mendoza</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0344-0709">0000-0003-0344-0709</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yin+Yang%22">Yin Yang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zilong+Pan%22">Zilong Pan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7641-0362">0000-0001-7641-0362</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yu+Wang%22">Yu Wang</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Educational+Computing+Research%22"><i>Journal of Educational Computing Research</i></searchLink>. 2026 64(2):403-438.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 36
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Network+Analysis%22">Network Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+Intelligence%22">Artificial Intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Feedback+%28Response%29%22">Feedback (Response)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inquiry%22">Inquiry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Discussion%22">Discussion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preservice+Teachers%22">Preservice Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preservice+Teacher+Education%22">Preservice Teacher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Efficacy%22">Self Efficacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Mediated+Communication%22">Computer Mediated Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Performance+Factors%22">Performance Factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thinking+Skills%22">Thinking Skills</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/07356331251396357
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0735-6331<br />1541-4140
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In inquiry-based discussion (IBD), it is essential to provide participants with effective feedback to promote engagement in knowledge construction and enhance the development of higher-order thinking. However, university instructors often struggle with monitoring multiple groups and delivering prompt and personalized feedback. Generative artificial intelligence (GAI), which can analyze text data and generate humanlike responses, offers potential solutions to mitigate these challenges. This study investigates the influence of GAI-assisted feedback on the IBD processes of pre-service teachers. A quasi-experiment was conducted with two classes (experimental: n = 53; control: n = 55) at a Chinese university. Epistemic network analysis was employed to model group IBD processes and compare groups with different characteristics (e.g., with/without GAI-assisted feedback, high/low engagement, high/low performance). Results show that GAI-assisted feedback significantly altered IBD dynamics. Collaboration self-efficacy was crucial for distinguishing group interaction patterns with the GAI chatbot. Moreover, groups in the experimental condition with high or low learning performance, engagement, and cognitive load showed diverse IBD interaction patterns. For example, groups with higher performance relied heavily on the GAI chatbot for idea generation without significant improvements in higher-order thinking. This study contributes detailed, process-oriented insights and implications on the adoption of GAI tools in IBD contexts.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1496970
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1496970
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/07356331251396357
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 36
        StartPage: 403
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Network Analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Artificial Intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Uses in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Feedback (Response)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Inquiry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Discussion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preservice Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preservice Teacher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Efficacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Mediated Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Performance Factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thinking Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Leveraging Network Analytics to Examine the Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Feedback on Inquiry-Based Discussion
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Shen Ba
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Guoqing Lu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Norman Biliwang Mendoza
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yin Yang
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zilong Pan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yu Wang
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0735-6331
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1541-4140
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 64
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Educational Computing Research
              Type: main
ResultId 1