Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41802341›Full record

ArticleKorean journal of medical education2026

Crossing the theory threshold: the pedagogical potential of generative artificial intelligence in educational research.

Amanda Burbage, Jennifer L Styron

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Korean journal of medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Amanda BurbageMedical & Health Professions Education (PhD, MHPE, Certificate), Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
Jennifer L StyronSentara Center for Healthcare Simulation and Immersive Learning, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis paper presents findings from an educational research graduate course in which generative artificial intelligence (AI) was incorporated to strengthen learners' understanding of threshold concepts related to theoretical frameworks. Medical and health professionals often struggle with the transition from a clinical role into the educational research role.

methodsThe study posits that the use of generative AI will help learners understand and apply theoretical frameworks beyond a superficial level, furthering their understanding, constructing new knowledge, and strengthening their ability to develop sound educational research studies. Journal and AI transcripts were analyzed for 37 participants.

resultsOpen-ended codes were grouped into five themes reflecting a developmental progression across phases of threshold crossing: encountering challenge, adapting through iteration, deepening engagement, customizing understanding, and cultivating metacognition. The first two themes represent learners' entry into the troublesome and liminal phases of threshold crossing, while the latter three reflect integrative and transformative shifts in their understanding and use of theory.

conclusionLearner perceptions of using generative AI to acquire theoretical framework threshold concepts are discussed to better understand how AI can be used as a supplemental resource in asynchronous learning environments. Faculty observations of learner performance, suggested generative AI teaching strategies, and potential threats, including AI hallucinations and the clarification of misinformation, are discussed.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligenceGenerative Artificial IntelligenceLearningResearchAcademiaComprehensionEducation, GraduateHumansArtificial intelligenceConcept formationDistance educationSocial/behavioral research

Identifiers

PMID41802341
PMCPMC12971146

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.