Reliance Negotiation Framework Introduced for Student LLM Engagement in Academic Writing

A novel theoretical construct known as the Reliance Negotiation Framework (RNF) has been proposed to enhance the understanding of student interactions with large language models in the context of academic writing. This framework emerged from a sequential explanatory mixed-methods investigation involving 382 undergraduate students at a public minority-serving institution in the U.S., addressing shortcomings in current models. Unlike typological frameworks that categorize without mechanisms, technology acceptance models that emphasize initial adoption rather than ongoing quality, or AI literacy frameworks that view competency as fixed, the RNF treats engagement as a dynamic negotiation process. The research uncovered significant gaps in existing theories, particularly regarding within-student variability and the developmental paradox of habituation over sophistication. The study employed a survey, 14 semi-structured interviews, and three qualitative survey phases. The framework was shared in a cross-disciplinary abstract on arXiv, identified as 2604.16772v1.