Exploring Mexican Students’ Perceptions, Experiences and Concerns with ChatGPT in Academic Writing: A Mixed-Methods Study

The emergence of ChatGPT brings benefits and challenges to students and academics, sparking both enthusiasm and concern. Further research is needed to better understand how students' concerns, risks, and challenges impact on academic writing, educational practices and institutional policies. This study employed a mixed-method approach, combining closed and open-ended questions to explore student´s perceptions, experiences, and uses of ChatGPT in academic writing. Data were collected from 432 students at the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico, the leading Mexican university in engineering and sciences. The findings show that while students view ChatGPT as beneficial for academic writing and beyond, they also express concerns about its potential risks and uncertainties, stemming from mistrust of the technology. This ambivalence underscores a nuanced view, as the students simultaneously recognize both advantages and drawbacks of the tool.