The Effectiveness of AI Chatbots for Academic Support among WMU Students
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
12-2025
Abstract
This qualitative study explores how students at Western Michigan University use AI chatbots to support their academic work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five students enrolled in five different departments, providing diverse perspectives on chatbot use in higher education. The findings reveal that students primarily rely on chatbots for idea generation, concept simplification and synthesizing, and overall learning enhancement. While participants reported increased efficiency and improved understanding, they also expressed concerns about accuracy and the potential for overreliance. The study suggests that AI chatbots can serve as effective academic tools when integrated ethically and with human oversight, by complementing, rather than replacing, independent thinking.
This project and poster were completed for the course COM 6050: Qualitative Communication Research.
Department
Communication
WMU ScholarWorks Citation
Abdulrauf, Habeeb, "The Effectiveness of AI Chatbots for Academic Support among WMU Students" (2025). Waldo Library Student Exhibits. 28.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/student_exhibits/28