Functional dependence shows a substantially stronger positive association with graduate students' research creativity than existential dependence (β = 0.457 vs β = 0.147)¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Functional dependence's total association with research creativity (β = 0.457) is substantially larger than existential dependence's (β = 0.147) in separate mediation models. → Yin S 2026

Evidence¶

Yin S 2026¶

Yin S, Wu R, Liu X and Li R (2026) GenAI dependence and graduate students' research creativity: the roles of critical thinking and human–AI collaboration quality. Front. Psychol. 17:1896963. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1896963

q2 · i? · associational · r2

Differential-effects analysis comparing total effects from two separate PROCESS Model 6 mediation models (N = 1,157). The article reports "functional dependence exhibited a stronger positive association with research creativity in the present sample." The comparison is descriptive, not a formal test of coefficient difference.

"the total association between functional dependence and research creativity (β = 0.457) was substantially larger than that observed for existential dependence (β = 0.147), suggesting that functional dependence exhibited a stronger positive association with research creativity in the present sample."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Creativity — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• Both functional and existential GenAI dependence are positively associated with research creativity, each with significant direct and total effects — related
• Critical thinking is the dominant indirect pathway linking functional GenAI dependence with research creativity, accounting for approximately 85% of its total indirect effect — related
• Critical thinking and human–AI collaboration quality jointly form a significant serial indirect pathway from GenAI dependence to research creativity, larger for functional than existential dependence — related
• In the SEM, GenAI dependence is positively associated with critical thinking (β = 0.492), human–AI collaboration quality (β = 0.538), and research creativity (β = 0.064), with satisfactory model fit — related
• AI dependence is negatively associated with self-reported creativity among Chinese college students, with a residual direct effect after motivational mediators are controlled — reports the opposite