The Use of Chatgpt in Education: Attitudes of College Students in Palu City

This study examined college students' attitudes toward the use of ChatGPT in education, particularly in supporting academic writing.Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, data were collected from 112 English education students in Palu City through questionnaires and interviews with six selected participants.Quantitative findings indicated that students demonstrated generally positive attitudes across the cognitive, affective, and conative components.Document analysis further showed that 81.25% of students achieved high writing performance (Grade A and A-), suggesting that students with more positive attitudes toward ChatGPT tended to perform well in academic writing.Thematic analysis revealed five major themes: Writing Assistance, Creativity, Integrity, and Confidence.Students reported that ChatGPT provided helpful feedback, supported grammar checking, assisted in idea generation, and improved clarity and organization in writing.However, they also emphasized the importance of ethical use, particularly in avoiding plagiarism and verifying information accuracy.Overall, the findings suggest that ChatGPT can support students' writing processes and learning engagement when used responsibly, highlighting the need for digital literacy and academic integrity in higher education.