AI and research-based learning in political sciences – How to foster critical thinking

This paper asks what it means to take a critical approach to AI and how critical thinking and a critical approach to AI can be incorporated into university teaching and then promoted. To this end, it provides insights into research-based learning in the field of political science, in which students were supported in their use of AI tools for research and writing processes. Based on weekly reflection papers written by students as part of a seminar, a qualitative content analysis is used to examine the critical use of AI.