Impact of dependence on generative artificial intelligence and the limitations in critical thinking

Authors

  • Karina Elizabeth Intriago Mejía Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, La Libertad-Ecuador https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8480-9223
  • Ángel Alberto Matamoros Dávalos Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, Santa Elena-Ecuador

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56200/mentor.v5i14.11708

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, middle school, Critical Thinking, Technological Dependence

Abstract

The expansion of Generative Artificial Intelligence in education presents both risks and benefits; in Ecuador, an empirical gap persists regarding its relationship with technological dependence and critical thinking at the secondary level. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between the level of dependence on Generative Artificial Intelligence and the development of critical thinking skills in tenth-grade students at Unidad Educativa Fiscal Mejía in Quito, Ecuador. The study adopted a mixed, concurrent design involving tenth-grade students and teachers; questionnaires and interviews were used to examine perceptions of GAI use, dependence, ethics, and reasoning through descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The results indicate a high frequency of GAI use, predominantly for academic purposes, perceptions of dependence and cognitive risks, student–teacher discrepancies, and student ethical neutrality, as evidenced through questionnaires, interviews, and triangulation. It is concluded that GAI is normalized in school practices, with divergent perceptions regarding dependence, reasoning, and ethics, reflecting tensions in authorship and academic use, consistent with the stated research objective.

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Author Biographies

Karina Elizabeth Intriago Mejía , Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, La Libertad-Ecuador

Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, La Libertad-Ecuador

Ángel Alberto Matamoros Dávalos , Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, Santa Elena-Ecuador

Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, Santa Elena-Ecuador

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Published

2026-05-15

How to Cite

Intriago Mejía , K. E., & Matamoros Dávalos , Ángel A. (2026). Impact of dependence on generative artificial intelligence and the limitations in critical thinking. MENTOR Revista De investigación Educativa Y Deportiva , 5(14), 187–199. https://doi.org/10.56200/mentor.v5i14.11708