Determining the impact of artificial intelligence on creativity and stress reduction among students
Design
This study is a quasi-experimental, two-parallel, double-blind study conducted on 30 students of Islamic Azad University, Izeh Branch (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group). The sample allocation is done by simple random method using the RAND function in Excel software; first, each participant is assigned a unique identification code and then a random number is generated for each individual using the RAND function. The participants are sorted based on the generated random numbers and finally the first 15 are placed in the experimental group and the next 15 are placed in the control group.
Settings and conduct
This study will use a field experimental research method and a large-scale pre-test and post-test design. The research will be conducted at Islamic Azad University, Izeh Branch. All participants, intervention administrators, and evaluators who interpret the data will be unaware of the allocation of individuals, and all information will be confidential and participants will be given pseudonyms.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Be at least 19 and no more than 45 years old
Be a student at Azad University, Izeh Branch
Be willing to participate in the research
Exclusion Criteria:
Have a physical illness that interferes with the treatment process
Be taking psychiatric medications
Intervention groups
Intervention group: Use of artificial intelligence in the form of a specific training program, conducted in a group setting over 8 90-minute sessions, one session per week. Control group: Do not receive any intervention.
Main outcome variables
Creativity; Stress
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20260904070913N1
Registration date:2026-09-21, 1405/06/30
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-09-21, 1405/06/30
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-09-21, 1405/06/30
Registrant information
Name
Azar Rafiei
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 916 811 3102
Email address
azar68882@gmail.com
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-10-01, 1405/07/09
Expected recruitment end date
2026-10-11, 1405/07/19
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The impact of artificial intelligence on creativity and stress reduction among students
Public title
The impact of artificial intelligence on creativity and stress reduction
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Be at least 19 and no more than 45 years old
Be a student at Azad University, Izeh Branch
Be willing to participate in the research
Exclusion criteria:
Have a physical illness that interferes with the treatment process
Be taking psychiatric medications
Age
From 18 years old to 45 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
Care provider
Outcome assessor
Data analyser
Sample size
Target sample size:
30
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
In this study, a simple randomization method is used to assign participants to two experimental and control groups. The randomization unit in this study is the students of Islamic Azad University, Izeh Branch, who are eligible to enter the study. First, a complete list of volunteers who have been selected based on the study entry criteria is prepared. Then, each participant is assigned a unique numerical identification code. These codes are entered into the Random Number Generator software and a random number is generated for each individual. After generating these numbers, the participants are sorted in ascending order based on the value of the random number. Then, the individuals are assigned to two groups; sequentially, the first 15 people on the list are assigned to the experimental group (training and intervention based on artificial intelligence) and the next 15 people are assigned to the control group. With this method, the order of entry into the study and the researcher's knowledge of the participants will not play any role in determining the group. To conceal allocation, the person responsible for entering data and performing the randomization process in the software will be independent of the intervention administrators and research evaluators (measurers of creativity and stress variables) and will not have the opportunity to know the process of implementing the sessions or changes in the allocation of individuals. Also, the identification codes of the participants will be kept confidential and separate from their other personal information. Therefore, it will not be possible to predict the allocated group for each participant before the randomization process.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Double blinded
Blinding description
In order to control bias and improve the internal validity of the research, this study was designed with a double-blind protocol; in this way, the intervention implementers, outcome assessor, and data analyst will be kept unaware of the allocation of students of Islamic Azad University, Izeh Branch to the experimental and control groups. In this process, the outcome assessor will collect data (evaluate creativity and stress variables) in all stages of pre-test, post-test, and follow-up, without knowing the assigned group of the participants, in order to prevent bias in the measurement; also, all raw data will be provided to the statistical analyst with anonymous codes (such as groups 1 and 2), and the true nature of the groups will not be revealed until the end of the data analysis process. All allocation steps will be performed by an independent person from the research team, and decoding of allocation codes will be done only after the final completion of the statistical analyses.
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Behbahan Islamic Azad University Ethics Committee
Street address
Shahid Bayani St., Amir Kabir Blvd.
City
بهبهان
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6361713198
Approval date
2026-07-28, 1405/05/06
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.BEHBAHAN.REC.1405.219
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Stress in students
ICD-10 code
Z73.3
ICD-10 code description
Stress, not elsewhere classified
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Creativity
Timepoint
before performing the intervention and two weeks after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Torrance Creativity Questionnaire 1979
2
Description
Stress
Timepoint
before performing the intervention and two weeks after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Fathi et al. Stress Questionnaire 2004
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: AI-based training sessions will be implemented in the form of a specific training program. The sessions of this intervention will be conducted in 8 90-minute sessions (one session per week) in a group for the experimental group in the statistics course. AI-based training is an approach that aims to reduce anxiety and academic stress, and develop problem-solving skills and creative thinking through interaction with intelligent analytical tools, helping students manage their reactions to the computational and conceptual challenges of statistics courses by replacing traditional and anxiety-provoking learning patterns with interactive and personalized learning. This approach has main educational axes that lead to the promotion of creativity and improvement of statistical skills; These axes include: familiarization with AI tools and language models in data analysis, explanation of how to write precise prompts to understand complex statistical concepts, training in the use of AI to visualize and analyze statistical data, training in idea generation techniques and creative solution of statistical problems with the help of smart tools, management and reduction of stress in solving mathematical and statistical problems through immediate feedback from AI tools, error detection and interpretation of statistical outputs guided by AI, identification of challenges and ethical and critical application of AI in learning, and finally consolidation and summarization of skills learned in statistics lessons. The main emphasis of this intervention is to reduce computational stress and fear of statistics when faced with complex data and replace it with creative, exploratory, and problem-solving approaches based on new technologies.
Category
Behavior
2
Description
Control group: They do not receive any intervention or treatment.
Category
N/A
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Islamic Azad University, Izeh Branch
Full name of responsible person
Azar Rafiei
Street address
Daneshjo Square, Zagros Blvd.
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391693627
Phone
+98 916 811 3102
Email
azar68882@gmail.com
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Behrang Mohammad Salehi
Street address
Daneshjo Square, Zagros Blvd.
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391693627
Phone
+98 996 477 0611
Email
bsalehi@iau.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Asadabad University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Azar Rafiei
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 2, Erfan Alley, Kaveh St., Imam Reza Blvd.
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391937187
Phone
+98 916 811 3102
Fax
Email
azar68882@gmail.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Asadabad University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Azar Rafiei
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 2, Erfan Alley, Kaveh St., Imam Reza Blvd.
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391937187
Phone
+98 916 811 3102
Fax
Email
azar68882@gmail.com
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Asadabad University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Azar Rafiei
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 2, Erfan Alley, Kaveh St., Imam Reza Blvd.
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391937187
Phone
+98 916 811 3102
Fax
Email
azar68882@gmail.com
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Justification/reason for indecision/not sharing IPD
Participant data is completely confidential and I do not intend to publish it.
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available