A comparative study of human and AI-assisted feedback on Saudi EFL students' engagement and motivation in essay writing

This mixed-methods study examined how AI-assisted and human feedback influenced Saudi EFL students’ engagement and motivation in essay writing. Data were collected through surveys and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative findings showed similar overall engagement levels between students receiving AI feedback (M = 3.84) and those receiving human feedback (M = 3.83). Qualitative analysis revealed notable differences across engagement dimensions. AI feedback enhanced accessibility, provided immediate clarification, created opportunities for iterative revision, and offered emotional comfort during writing. In contrast, human feedback was valued for its personalization, contextual understanding, and social interaction. The findings also showed that students often adopted hybrid engagement practices by combining AI and human feedback to support their writing development. The study contributes empirical evidence to the growing literature on AI-assisted writing instruction and concludes by questioning the simplistic narratives about AI replacing humans. It provides a clear explanation of students’ engagement and motivation in AI-assisted writing instruction and offers practical advice for developing feedback in EFL writing classes.