Effect of Oral Defense Expectation on AI Reliance and Genuine Understanding

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT has created new challenges for academic assessment. Students can now generate correct answers using AI without necessarily understanding the underlying concepts, thereby weakening the validity of traditional assessments as measures of genuine competence. One proposed solution is to increase accountability by informing students that they will be required to explain and defend their solutions orally. The expectation of oral defense may discourage inappropriate reliance on AI because students anticipate the need to demonstrate independent understanding. This study uses a randomized controlled experimental design to test whether informing students about an oral defense requirement reduces AI reliance and increases genuine understanding, as measured behaviorally and through self-report measures.