Students’ Perception of ChatGPT Use in Thesis Proposals Writing at a Pesantren-Based University

Abstract

This study investigates students’ perceptions of use ChatGPT for thesis proposal writing within a pesantren-based university in East Java, Indonesia. A quantitative survey design was employed involving 20 seventh-semester students from the English Education Department. Data were collected through a 20-item Likert-scale questionnaire adapted from a validated instrument and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study examined three constructs: perception of the use of ChatGPT, the benefits of use, and challenges of the use of ChatGPT. The results demonstrate a significant degree of student acceptance, particularly regarding ChatGPT’s usefulness in generating ideas, improving grammar, and organizing writing structure. These results demonstrate that students meaningfully integrate the tool into their academic writing process. However, students also reported challenges related to maintaining originality, avoiding dependency, and ensuring academic appropriateness. Notably, concerns about content accuracy were less dominant than issues related to ethical considerations, formatting standards, and academic conventions. The results show that students in this educational context use ChatGPT critically and responsibly, positioning it as a supportive aid rather than a substitute for their own writing ability.