Boosting Beliefs How Chatbot Use Shapes Task-Specific Self-Efficacy
Type
working paper
Date Issued
2026
Author(s)
Abstract
Generative AI is becoming an integral part of consumers’ daily lives. Consumers increasingly rely on chatbots, such as ChatGPT from OpenAI, for a wide range of tasks, from information search or personal organization to creative tasks such as writing. Their frequent use raises questions about how this new technology affects users’ perceptions of themselves. In the current work I examine how chatbot use impacts users’ self-efficacy, that is, the belief in one’s own abilities. Further, this research explores the role of outcome attribution, that is, whether users credit themselves or the chatbot for the outcome. The research methodology is twofold: (1) an online experiment (N = 200) using a chatbot API to investigate the direct effect of chatbot use on self-efficacy and performance, and (2) a representative online survey (N = 976) to provide correlational evidence for the impact of frequency of chatbot use on self-efficacy. Chatbot use was associated with an increase in writing and decision-making self-efficacy, while the role of outcome attribution differed between studies: In the experiment, chatbot use reduced self-attribution, which in turn negatively affected self-efficacy. In the survey, more frequent chatbot use was associated with greater self-attribution, which in turn positively predicted self-efficacy, reinforcing the direct effect.
These findings suggest that chatbot-assisted task completion can function as a mastery experience that strengthens the belief in one’s own writing abilities. At the same time, the extent to which users attribute co-produced outcomes to themselves represents a mechanism through which chatbot use can impact self-efficacy.
These findings suggest that chatbot-assisted task completion can function as a mastery experience that strengthens the belief in one’s own writing abilities. At the same time, the extent to which users attribute co-produced outcomes to themselves represents a mechanism through which chatbot use can impact self-efficacy.
Language
English (United States)
Keywords
human-machine interaction
self-efficacy
attribution
chatbots
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
No
Subject(s)
Division(s)
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Name
Boosting Beliefs How Chatbot Use Shapes Task-Specific Self-Efficacy.pdf
Size
1.96 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
2cf5ee5dc68adf4454a5e6aba1dfeb65