The effects of AI second opinions on collaborative confidence and decision-making: evidence from a controlled study of postgraduate vocal accompanists.

BACKGROUND

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into higher education, yet empirical evidence remains limited on how AI-generated "second opinions" influence psychological and cognitive outcomes in artistic training contexts.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the effects of AI "second opinions" on collaborative self-efficacy, music performance anxiety, and decision-making style among postgraduate students specialising in vocal accompaniment.

RESULTS

The experimental group showed significantly higher posttest self-efficacy than the control group (p = 0.026) and a significant within-group increase (p = 0.007). Music performance anxiety was significantly lower in the experimental group compared with the control group (p = 0.013), with a significant within-group reduction (p = 0.007). No significant differences were found in decision-making style between or within groups (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

AI "second opinions" can effectively enhance self-efficacy and reduce performance anxiety in postgraduate music accompaniment training. However, they do not significantly alter decision-making styles in the short term, suggesting that AI primarily functions as an augmentative tool supporting human interpretative agency rather than reshaping cognitive patterns.