Journal of Accounting and Investment
Vol. 26 No. 3: September 2025

Determining accounting students' design thinking skills: The role of artificial intelligence usage and digital literacy

Darmawan, Rahmat (Unknown)
Widiastuti, Harjanti (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Sep 2025

Abstract

Research aims: This study aims to examine the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage and digital literacy on the design thinking skills of accounting students, as well as examine the role of digital literacy as a mediating variable in the relationship between AI usage and design thinking skills.Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative approach was used through a survey of 323 accounting students from various universities in Indonesia. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the direct and indirect influences between variables.Research findings show that AI usage and digital literacy directly and positively influence design thinking skills. Furthermore, digital literacy mediates the positive influence of AI usage on design thinking skills. Variations in relationships were also found based on the type of institution and the student's semester level.Theoretical contribution/Originality: This study expands the application of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) by placing digital literacy as a personal factor that mediates the influence of technology on complex thinking skills. These findings also emphasize the importance of considering institutional context and learning experiences in using accounting education technology.Practitioner/Policy implication: The study's results confirm the importance of a learning strategy focusing on AI integration and strengthening digital literacy to support the development of 21st-century skills.Research limitation/Implication: Variations in institutional readiness and access to technology become external factors that cannot be controlled. Future research needs to include learning experiences and institutional environment as contextual variables.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ai

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

JAI receives rigorous articles that have not been offered for publication elsewhere. JAI focuses on the issue related to accounting and investments that are relevant for the development of theory and practices of accounting in Indonesia and southeast asia especially. Therefore, JAI accepts the ...