International Journal of Education and Teaching Zone
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2026): June 2026 Edition

A Quasi-Experimental Study of Inquiry-Based Learning for Enhancing Motivation and Reflective Thinking in EFL Recount Writing

Ikha Listyarini (Universitas PGRI Semarang)
Davron Aslonqulovich Juraev (Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences)
Sri Wahyuni (Universitas PGRI Semarang)
Nur Hidayat (Universitas PGRI Semarang)
Muhammad Arief Budiman (National Yunlin University of Science and Technology)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2026

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of ChatGPT-assisted Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) in enhancing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students' writing performance, reflective thinking, and motivation. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest non-equivalent control group design was employed with 80 undergraduate EFL students assigned to either a conventional IBL group or a ChatGPT-assisted IBL group. Data were collected through IELTS-based writing assessments and validated questionnaires on reflective thinking and motivation and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed that students in the ChatGPT-assisted IBL group significantly outperformed those in the conventional IBL group in writing performance, reflective thinking, and motivation. Positive associations were also observed among the three learning outcomes, suggesting that integrating generative AI into inquiry-based instruction supports both cognitive and affective aspects of learning. These findings highlight the pedagogical potential of ChatGPT to enrich inquiry-based writing instruction by promoting reflective learning, increasing student motivation, and improving writing quality. Although the quasi-experimental design limits causal inference, the study provides empirical evidence supporting the integration of generative AI into EFL teaching and offers practical implications for AI-enhanced language learning in higher education.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ijetz

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Mathematics Social Sciences Other

Description

International Journal of Education and Teaching Zone (IJETZ) is a double-blind peer-reviewed and open-access journal on Education and teacher training. The focus of this journal is to discuss issues of education and teacher training in countries around the world, both in public educational ...