THE IMPACT OF AI ON ACADEMIC WRITING: ENHANCING SKILLS OR HINDERING CRITICAL THINKING?
Guldana Zhumagaliyeva, Zhibek Tleshova, Moldir Amanzhol, Moldir Smagulova · National Center for Higher Education Development · 2025
This study examines the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT on academic writing among undergraduate students at a university in Kazakhstan. Using survey data from 91 students, the study used descriptive statistics, group comparisons, and correlation analysis to explore perceptions of AI in tasks such as organizing ideas, grammar correction, summarizing contentand critical thinking. Students rated AI most helpful for improving writing clarity (M=3.75) and paraphrasing (M=3.74). Gender and age differences were notable: females found AI more helpful for grammar (M=3.89), while younger males used it more for organizing ideas (M=4.00). A strong correlation (r=0.59) was also observed between content summarization and idea organization, underscoring how AI tools may support higher-order thinking by helping students distill and structure complex information. The study highlights both the benefits and concerns regarding over-reliance and critical thinking, and calls for clear guidelines to ensure responsible AIuse that supports academic integrity.