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Hauptverfasser: Tanprasert, Thitaree, Kim, Young-ho, Fels, Sidney, Yoon, Dongwook
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2026
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.13479
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author Tanprasert, Thitaree
Kim, Young-ho
Fels, Sidney
Yoon, Dongwook
author_facet Tanprasert, Thitaree
Kim, Young-ho
Fels, Sidney
Yoon, Dongwook
contents Peer agents can supplement real-time collaborative learning in asynchronous online courses. Constructive Controversy (CC) theory suggests that humans deepen their understanding of a topic by confronting and resolving controversies. This study explores whether CC's benefits apply to LLM-based peer agents, focusing on the impact of agents' disputatious behaviors and disclosure of agents' behavior designs on the learning process. In our mixed-method study (n=144), we compare LLMs that follow detailed CC guidelines (regulated) to those guided by broader goals (unregulated) and examine the effects of disclosing the agents' design to users (transparent vs. opaque). Findings show that learners' values influence their agent interaction: those valuing control appreciate unregulated agents' willingness to cease push-back upon request, while those valuing intellectual challenges favor regulated agents for stimulating creativity. Additionally, design transparency lowers learners' perception of agents' abilities. Our findings lay the foundation for designing effective collaborative peer agents in isolated educational settings.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_13479
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Exploring Learners' Expectations and Engagement When Collaborating with Constructively Controversial Peer Agents
Tanprasert, Thitaree
Kim, Young-ho
Fels, Sidney
Yoon, Dongwook
Human-Computer Interaction
K.3.1
Peer agents can supplement real-time collaborative learning in asynchronous online courses. Constructive Controversy (CC) theory suggests that humans deepen their understanding of a topic by confronting and resolving controversies. This study explores whether CC's benefits apply to LLM-based peer agents, focusing on the impact of agents' disputatious behaviors and disclosure of agents' behavior designs on the learning process. In our mixed-method study (n=144), we compare LLMs that follow detailed CC guidelines (regulated) to those guided by broader goals (unregulated) and examine the effects of disclosing the agents' design to users (transparent vs. opaque). Findings show that learners' values influence their agent interaction: those valuing control appreciate unregulated agents' willingness to cease push-back upon request, while those valuing intellectual challenges favor regulated agents for stimulating creativity. Additionally, design transparency lowers learners' perception of agents' abilities. Our findings lay the foundation for designing effective collaborative peer agents in isolated educational settings.
title Exploring Learners' Expectations and Engagement When Collaborating with Constructively Controversial Peer Agents
topic Human-Computer Interaction
K.3.1
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.13479