Reflective thinking moderates the direct GenAI use–critical thinking path: positive at low reflectivity, non-significant at high reflectivity¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q2 · i1 small
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i1 The RT × GenAI use interaction was significant (β = −0.125, p = 0.002); GenAI use predicted critical thinking at low reflective thinking (β = 0.177, p = 0.008) but not at high reflective thinking (β = −0.073, p = 0.245). → Yan Z 2026

Evidence¶

Yan Z 2026¶

Yan Z, Fang Z and Zou W (2026). The association between generative AI use and university students' critical thinking: a moderated mediation model of GenAI feedback literacy and reflective thinking. Front. Psychol. 17:1939286. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1939286

q2 · i1 · associational · r2

Simple-slope analysis at ±1 SD of reflective thinking in the moderated mediation PLS-SEM model (N = 421). The interaction term Reflective Thinking × GenAI Use was significant (β = −0.125, t = 3.138, p = 0.002); the direct path "was non-significant amongst students with high reflective thinking".

"GenAI use significantly predicted critical thinking amongst students with low reflective thinking (β = 0.177, t = 2.678, p = 0.008), but the slope was non-significant amongst students with high reflective thinking (β = −0.073, t = 1.162, p = 0.245)."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Critical Thinking — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• GenAI use is positively associated with university students' self-reported critical analytical skills (total effect) — related
• The indirect effect of GenAI use on critical thinking via feedback literacy is conditional on reflective thinking, strengthening as reflectivity rises — related
• GenAI feedback literacy mediates the association between GenAI use and critical thinking, with near-complete mediation — related