Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather comprehensive data. This method provided flexibility, allowing researchers to probe deeper into specific areas of interest that emerged during the conversations (Balushi, 2018). The interviews, conducted online and individually, focused on key themes raised in previous literature but with little empirical consolidation, such as participants’ experiences with ChatGPT (Jiang et al., 2024; Shiri, 2023), their perceptions of its impact on their writing (Hamam and Fatouh, 2023; Tran et al., 2023), and the professional identity issues they perceived (Jeyaraman et al., 2023; Sok and Heng, 2024). Interview questions were designed to elicit detailed responses about how researchers balanced their personal and professional identities, managed ethical considerations, and navigated the challenges and benefits of using AI tools in their academic work. Sample questions included: “In what ways do you use ChatGPT in your research writing?”; “How do you feel about the role ChatGPT plays in shaping your academic identity?”; “Do you consider ChatGPT’s involvement in your writing to align with your values as a researcher?”; and “Have you experienced any internal or external conflicts related to your use of ChatGPT?” The interviews were conducted in English and recorded with participants’ informed consent. Each recording was transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s (2021) process involving familiarization, generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, and defining and naming themes.

“I know some people worry about using ChatGPT too much, but in my field, you’re expected to publish constantly. It’s more about staying productive than perfecting every sentence

but now I see it more like a tool to help me say things better. The ideas are still mine. It just helps me organize them clearly.” – PR9

That’s when the guilt started… I kept thinking, if someone read this and praised it, would they be praising me or the AI?

For non-native English researchers, the stakes are particularly high: while ChatGPT may help them meet formal linguistic expectations, it also risks amplifying uncertainties about the ownership and credibility of their contributions.