Research Proposal Development in the Age of Generative AI: Exploring Students’ Difficulties and the Emergence of AI-Driven Competence Illusion
Keywords:
Research Methodology; Research Proposal; Student Difficulties; Academic Literacy; Academic Anxiety; Artificial Intelligence.Abstract
This research is motivated by the discovery of various difficulties for students in preparing thesis proposals in the Research Methodology course, both in methodological, academic, and psychological aspects. This condition has an impact on the low quality of student research proposals and the lack of optimal understanding of research methodology. This study aims to analyze the forms of student difficulties, the causative factors, and their implications for the learning of Research Methodology in Islamic private universities. The research uses a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data was obtained through in-depth interviews, learning observations, and analysis of student proposal documents. The research informants consist of fifth-semester students and lecturers in the Research Methodology course at STAI Ali bin Abi Thalib Surabaya. Data analysis was carried out using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldana through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawn. The results of the study show that students have difficulties in understanding the concept of research methodology, composing theoretical studies critically, developing coherent academic paragraphs, and applying scientific writing techniques appropriately. In addition, it was found that there was a high level of academic anxiety and low student learning independence. This study also found the phenomenon of AI-driven competence illusion, which is a condition when students produce proposals that appear systematic through the help of generative AI, but have not yet understood the substance of the research methodology in depth. The findings of this study provide important implications for the development of research methodology learning strategies that are more contextual, applicative, and oriented towards strengthening student research literacy.
References
Aldabbus, S., & Almansouri, E. (2022). Academic Writing Difficulties Encountered by University EFL Learners. British Journal of English Language Linguistics, 10(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.37745/bjel.2013/vol10n3111
Allen, M. (2008). Promoting Critical Thinking Skills in Online Information Literacy Instruction Using a Constructivist Approach. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 15(1–2), 21–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/10691310802176780
Amida, A., Algarni, S., & Stupnisky, R. (2020). Testing the relationships of motivation, time management and career aspirations on graduate students’ academic success. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 13(5), 1305–1322. https://doi.org/10.1108/jarhe-04-2020-0106
Chang, J.-C., Wu, Y.-T., & Ye, J.-N. (2022). A Study of Graduate Students’ Achievement Motivation, Active Learning, and Active Confidence Based on Relevant Research. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(10-B). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.915770
Christ, T. W. (2009). Designing, Teaching, and Evaluating Two Complementary Mixed Methods Research Courses. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 3(4), 292–325. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689809341796
Feldon, D. F., Peugh, J., Timmerman, B. E., Maher, M. A., Hurst, M., Strickland, D., Gilmore, J. A., & Stiegelmeyer, C. (2011). Graduate Students’ Teaching Experiences Improve Their Methodological Research Skills. Science, 333(6045), 1037–1039. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1204109
Gupta, S., Jaiswal, A., Paramasivam, A., & Kotecha, J. (2022). Academic Writing Challenges and Supports: Perspectives of International Doctoral Students and Their Supervisors. Frontiers in Education, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.891534
Hardway, C. L., & Stroud, M. (2014). Using Student Choice to Increase Students’ Knowledge of Research Methodology, Improve Their Attitudes Toward Research, and Promote Acquisition of Professional Skills. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 26(3), 381–392.
Hong, L. (2025). Development and validation of a competency-based ladder pathway for AI literacy enhancement among higher vocational students. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15202-6
Jumaah, F. M. (2024). EXPLORING CONSTRUCTIVIST LEARNING THEORY AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN TEACHING ENGLISH. The American Journal of Social Science and Education Innovations, 6(8), 7–19. https://doi.org/10.37547/tajssei/volume06issue08-02
Kharroubi, S., & Elmediouni, A. (2024). Conceptual Review: Cultivating Learner Autonomy Through Self-Directed Learning & Self-Regulated Learning: A Socio-Constructivist Exploration. International Journal of Language and Literary Studies, 6(2), 276–296. https://doi.org/10.36892/ijlls.v6i2.1649
Kilbourn, B. (2006). The Qualitative Doctoral Dissertation Proposal. Teachers College Record: The Voice of Scholarship in Education, 108(4), 529–576. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9620.2006.00660.x
Klopper, H. (2008). The qualitative research proposal. Curationis, 31(4). https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v31i4.1062
Kurniadi, Moch. D. (2025). Analisis SWOT dalam Meningkatkan Daya Saing Perguruan Tinggi Keislaman di STAI Ali bin Abi Thalib Surabaya. Jurnal Al-Fawa’id : Jurnal Agama Dan Bahasa, 15(2), 285–302. https://doi.org/10.54214/alfawaid.Vol15.Iss2.899
Sandelowski, M., & Barroso, J. (2003). Writing the proposal for a qualitative research methodology project. Qualitative Health Research, 13(6), 781–820. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732303013006003
Silviawati, I., & Yonisa Kurniawan, R. (2023). Pengaruh Kemandirian Belajar, Lingkungan Keluarga, dan Motivasi Belajar terhadap Hasil Belajar: Systematic Literature Review. In EKLEKTIK: Jurnal Pendidikan Ekonomi dan Kewirausahaan (Vol. 6, Issue 1, pp. 99–113). https://doi.org/10.24014/ekl.v6i1.2412 6
Tashakkori, A., & Teddlie, C. (2003). Issues and dilemmas in teaching research methods courses in social and behavioural sciences: US perspective. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 6(1), 61–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645570305055
Wita, G., & Mursal, I. F. (2022). Fenomenologi dalam Kajian Sosial Sebuah Studi Tentang Konstruksi Makna. Titian: Jurnal Ilmu Humaniora, 6(2), 325–338. https://doi.org/10.22437/titian.v6i2.21211
Yim, I. H. Y., & Su, J. (2025). Artificial intelligence literacy education in primary schools: A review. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 35(5), 2175–2204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-025-09979-w
Zitha, I., & Lambani, M. N. (2024). Register competence in academic writing of student teachers specialising in English didactics at the University of Venda. Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 42(sup1). https://doi.org/10.2989/16073614.2024.2311887
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Fikry Firmansyah, Abdul Basid, Fajar Alfaris, Moch. Danu Kurniadi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
