Large-scale semantic mapping of learner agency and autonomy reveals what measurement and generative AI research overlook
Summary
This paper uses large-scale semantic analysis of over 14,000 publications to map definitions of learner agency and autonomy, revealing three dimensions and a systematic underrepresentation of the sociocultural dimension in existing scales. It argues that current generative AI research in education overly focuses on learning regulation, narrowing the behavioral repertoire for AI-mediated learning environments.
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# Large-scale semantic mapping of learner agency and autonomy reveals what measurement and generative AI research overlook Source: [https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.10881](https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.10881) [View PDF](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2606.10881) > Abstract:Learner agency and autonomy are foundational to personal development, yet a pervasive "jingle\-jangle" fallacy \(i\.e\. identical terms denoting different constructs, distinct terms denoting identical ones\) has substantially hindered cumulative knowledge\. Treating meaning as a phenomenon constituted through use in linguistic practice, we extracted 8,954 definitions and 2,700 scale items from over 14,000 publications, to investigate how researchers actually used learner agency and autonomy with a semantic analysis pipeline\. The definitional landscape of two constructs resolves into three dimensions: regulation and control of learning \(task\), intrinsic motivation and internal decision\-making \(person\), and social\-relational action \(sociocultural\), thereby empirically quantifying the jingle\-jangle fallacy\. Existing scales, however, systematically underrepresent the sociocultural dimension\. Critically, current generative AI research in education concentrates on learning regulation and control, narrowing the behavioral repertoire that AI\-mediated learning environments are designed to cultivate\. Beyond conceptual clarification, this work carries direct implications for conceptualization, measurement, and practice towards supporting the multidimensional learner agency and autonomy\. ## Submission history From: Xiaobo Liu \[[view email](https://arxiv.org/show-email/ca009693/2606.10881)\] **\[v1\]**Tue, 9 Jun 2026 13:54:31 UTC \(3,212 KB\)
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