Notes on AI and Writing Proficiency Research

Title Suggestions

  • Reduce title length to 12-16 words.
  • Use standard entities and articles.
  • Focus on the construct first and lead with the outcome (e.g., writing proficiency).
  • Use parallel structure.
  • Examples:
    • "Effects of AI tool utilization on declining metalinguistic awareness."
    • "Exploring the relationship between AI tool utilization and declining metalinguistic awareness."
    • "The difference in writing proficiency across levels of AI utilization."
  • Include the research outcome in the title.

Research Gap

  • The current study states that AI tools' impacts on theoretical analysis and self-improvement are understudied.
  • It lacks Philippine context or Asian higher education citations.
  • It does not quantify the size of the problem.
  • Suggestions:
    • Add regional or institutional statistics.
    • Include pretest data showing low metalinguistic awareness.
    • End with a one-sentence gap statement that directly justifies each Statement of the Problem (SOP).

Paragraph Structure

  • Break the paragraph into two.
    • First paragraph: What AI tools change.
    • Second paragraph: Why metalinguistic awareness is important.

Background of the Study

  • The current background provides a balanced view of AI benefits and risks but transitions from global to course-specific context without curricular evidence.
  • The term "AI-driven education" is undefined.
  • Recommendations:
    • Clearly stipulate what AI-driven education is.
    • Insert course curricular outcome for second-year English majors, such as check standards or writing proficiency background of the study basis.
    • Provide prevalence data on AI tool use on campus to ground urgency.
    • End with a clear problem of practice sentence that mirrors the title.

Theoretical Framework

  • The study combines Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).
  • It covers completion or deduction, aligning with the problem.
  • Links to metalinguistic awareness and writing quality metrics are not spelled out.
  • Need for explicit relationship links within the theoretical framework.
  • Include at least one writing-specific SRL study or theory.

Statement of the Problem (SOP)

  • The current SOP has four questions that mirror the variables.
  • It mixes levels of use with the effect of AI.
  • Question four brings in equity.
  • Suggestions:
    • Separate the descriptive and causal questions.
    • Examples:
      • "What are the patterns of AI uses?"
      • "How does high versus low use affect efficiency?"
    • Consider dropping equity, as it may require additional data.
    • Add a hypothesis.
    • Add a question about your tangible outcome.

Research Design

  • The design is experimental.
  • Using a quasi-experimental design includes pretest, posttest and intervention.

Experimental Intervention

  • The experimental setup includes:
    • Pretest: writing output before admission to the university.
    • Intervention: entry-level writing + AI.
    • Comparison: difference in outcome between the pretest and the posttest.

Research Ownership

  • When conducting research, one must "own it."
  • The advisor's role is to check technicalities and provide recommendations, but not to totally revamp the ideas.
  • Cautionary advice: be wary of advisors who excessively revise your ideas; the research should remain yours.

Suggested AI Intervention (Hypothetical)

  • Pretest on writing.
  • Intervention: For the next couple of weeks, use AI for all writing and essays.
  • Final output test.
  • Check for significant difference.
  • When you do your research, you have to own it.
  • It has to be yours.
  • You have to know it.
  • Role the advisor is to check your technicalities.
  • They will give you recommendations but not to totally revamp revise your ideas.