how to get chatgpt to write a research paper

How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Research Paper: Prompts & Ideas 

If you’re a student, you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT. This advanced AI model can handle the task of writing an entire research paper from scratch. Many scholars use the chatbot to create texts with minimum effort. However, most of the time, the results are far from impressive. Plus, students risk getting punished for unethical AI use.

But what if we told you there are ways of using ChatGPT to create excellent papers and save time on the steps that would take ages to do manually?

In this article, our experts will discuss how to use the chatbot to make research writing easier. We will also explain what to avoid and suggest what custom GPTs you may use to make the writing process more efficient.

🔍 Is ChatGPT Good for Research?

• ✍️ Limitations of ChatGPT
• 🎯 How to Use AI to Write a Research Paper
• 🤔 Aspects AI Can’t Help You With
• 🚀 Best Custom GPTs for Research
• 💡 Key Takeaways

🔗 References

In general, it’s possible to use ChatGPT as a research assistant. But the question is, for what end can you use it?

Well, if your aim is not to generate an entire paper but rather to make some of the routine writing steps easier, then using an AI tool can be ethical and permissible.

For instance, you can use ChatGPT to:

• Search for information,
• Rewrite complex ideas,
• Summarize longer texts,
• Develop research questions ,
• Create research paper abstracts,
• Generate sample outlines.

ChatGPT is very effective when it comes to handling such tasks. It’s also absolutely legal to use it for these purposes.

All you need to do is write a very clear prompt . Otherwise, the chatbot might give you an irrelevant answer. We’re going to share the most effective prompts for various research purposes in the following sections.

But first, an important disclaimer:

We’re firmly against AI cheating , and we don’t encourage it in any shape or form. That’s why this guide will talk about legal and honest ways to use AI for research assistance.

✍️ Limitations of Using ChatGPT for Research

If you decide to use the chatbot for your academic work, it’s essential to consider its limitations . This will help you focus on what AI does best and avoid trusting it with things that can ruin your research.

Here are the main limitations you want to consider:

• It’s limited by the datasets . Because ChatGPT is not trained on recent data, it has no knowledge of the most up-to-date information or findings in specific fields.
• It lacks depth . While the chatbot can effectively summarize information, it may fail to fully grasp complex theories and arguments of a research topic.
• It tends to plagiarize . When ChatGPT generates its texts, it rehashes the information from its database. So, even if a text seems original, it contains other people’s ideas.
• It struggles with contextualizing and interpreting data . The chatbot lacks the human ability to analyze and contextualize information critically. It needs guidance through concrete, well-written prompts.
• It can present incorrect answers . Sometimes, the chatbot simply lacks information in a specific research field. This leads to inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the generated content.
• It’s prone to bias . Since ChatGPT is trained on online data that often includes biased and offensive information, it can generate statements expressing bias towards specific ideas or people.
• It’s associated with cheating . Some unethical researches generate entire papers without making any real effort. If students do the same, they will be caught with the help of AI essay checkers and punished for cheating.

Even though it may be tempting, it’s best not to rely on AI too much if you want to conduct good research. You can use some of the chatbot’s functions to make the process easier, but you still have to do most of the work yourself.

🎯 How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Research Paper: Top 11 Ideas

So, do you want to know how to use ChatGPT to write a paper? If you do, look no further!

The following list of tips will explain to you how to:

• Brainstorm topics,
• Create a roadmap,
• Refine your research topic,
• Find gaps in your outline,
• Locate sources,
• Find cases to explore,
• Summarize texts,
• Analyze statistical data,
• Edit as you write,
• Create an abstract,
• Format the references.

We’ve also included examples of the most effective prompts for each research aspect. Feel free to try them out!

1. Brainstorm Topics with ChatGPT

For many students, the most challenging part of research is the beginning. Sometimes, you just don’t know what to focus on. In situations like this, ChatGPT can help you brainstorm ideas and collect information.

Let’s assume you need to write an essay about pop culture and modern art, but you need help figuring out where to start.

The first step would be to create a good prompt for the chatbot. For instance, you can phrase your request like this:

The second step will be to choose one topic from the generated list and ask ChatGPT to tell you more about it.

For instance:

You’ll get a detailed answer on the subject.

Lastly, you can use the most interesting points from the last reply to narrow down your topic even further or to get more ideas for the direction of your paper.

For example:

And now you have fresh, focused topics that you can research.

2. Use AI to Create a Roadmap

Once you’ve chosen a topic, you can use ChatGPT to create a detailed roadmap that will guide your research and help you stay on track.

As we’ve mentioned before, when you work with ChatGPT, a good prompt is the key to getting a relevant answer. This is especially true for generating outlines and roadmaps. The more detailed and clear your prompt is, the better outcome you will get.

Here’s an example of what your request might look like:

The roadmap also included suggestions for a literature review, methodology, case studies, discussion, and other essential research components. You can use all this information to create an outline. To streamline this task, try using our free research paper outline generator .

We also suggest you research the topic before using AI. That way, you’ll have a general understanding of the subject and will be able to judge the quality of the generated roadmap.

3. Refine Your Research Question with AI

Any research needs a central question. Sometimes, it may be hard to collect your thoughts and come up with an interesting issue to focus on. In this case, you can use ChatGPT to assist you.

Here’s how:

• Describe the topic of your paper clearly and concisely.
• Ask the chatbot to suggest several research questions based on your requirements.
• Choose the best one.

Your prompt can look like this:

Tip : We also recommend using our free question generator from text . It will easily turn your research idea into a question without you having to come up with elaborate prompts.

4. Ask ChatGPT to Identify Gaps in Your Outline

Suppose you’re done with the outline and have the research question, but you feel something needs to be added to it. In that case, you can use ChatGPT to identify the gaps in your research plan.

Here’s what the prompt may look like:

5. Use the Chatbot to Find Sources

Once you have completed the preparation stage, it’s time to find suitable sources and start researching.

How can ChatGPT help you with it?

Well, one way is to ask ChatGPT to create a list of references on the subject. However, this is a bad idea since you’ll only get a list of nonexistent sources vaguely related to the central theme of your research.

Instead, we suggest you ask ChatGPT to locate relevant works on separate points from your outline. This will allow you to get a comprehensive overview of diverse aspects related to your topic and not just the central theme itself.

For instance, if the topic of your paper is the semiotics of memes used in modern art, one of the points in your outline can be dedicated to the visual language in memetic social commentary. Suppose this part of your research will be about 3 pages long.

So, you can ask the chatbot the following:

One thing to note is that ChatGPT can’t provide you with internet links, so you’ll have to look for sources on your own. And while you do that, you may also come across interesting articles or get new ideas that you can use to perfect your outline.

Tip : To ensure that your text doesn’t contain any plagiarized fragments from the sources, you may run it through our free plagiarism checker . And if you need additional clarifications regarding the meaning of complicated passages, feel free to use a quote explainer .

6. Find Specific Cases to Explore

Think your research lacks depth? Try adding to it real-life cases or specific historical incidents. They will help you support your statement, better convey your ideas, and add credibility to your paper.

If you want to include an example in your paper but struggle to think of one, you can use ChatGPT to look for a specific event or real-life instance related to your topic.

Here’s what the prompt can look like:

The results also included Brazilian, South Korean, and French memes with explanations. We’d say that’s enough to create a comprehensive overview. Just make sure to fact-check the generated examples and see if they actually exist.

7. Use AI to Summarize Lengthy Sources

If you need to learn the main idea of a lengthy passage quickly, you can use ChatGPT as a summarizer. This can be especially helpful when you’re working on a literature review and need brief descriptions of your sources.

Let’s try it with an article on the semiotics of memes :

When you need a summary, it’s best to provide the chatbot with the whole text by copy-pasting it. It’s important because if you use vague prompts with only the work’s title, the tool will either refer to a nonexistent work or refuse to answer the request:

Tip : In addition to ChatGPT, try using our key points maker . It will present all the necessary information from the text in a convenient list format. And if you need to create an overview of previous research for your paper’s introduction, use our background of the study generator .

8. Analyze Statistical Data with ChatGPT

Now, what should you do if your research includes statistical data? Sometimes, it can be hard to interpret numbers and connections between them. Luckily, ChatGPT can help you analyze and organize it, isolate the most critical pieces of data, and create a comprehensive summary.

To make it work, ensure that your prompt is as detailed as possible. You will also need to include the entire dataset in it.

Here’s an example:

The chatbot can also use inferential statistics methods such as chi-square tests or ANOVA , but that would require large, concrete numbers.

Otherwise, the chatbot will get stuck repeating the same formula:

Another important thing is not to rely on AI entirely when it comes to statistical analysis. The reason is that the chatbot can overlook certain things or give biased results. In some cases, ChatGPT usage for data analysis can lead to p- hacking , which is highly unethical.

What does this mean, exactly?

Well, p-hacking is a way of misusing data to create a statistically significant result when, in fact, it doesn’t exist. This leads to false conclusions and undermines the reliability of the study. For that reason, it’s crucial to analyze the data yourself and carefully double-check the results if you decide to delegate the task to AI.

Still, ChatGPT works effectively when it is necessary to summarize data or conduct a preliminary analysis of the statistical data and make conclusions depending on the study findings.

9. Use the Chatbot to Edit as You Write

While working on your paper, you may want to improve or edit its parts. That’s another aspect where ChatGPT will come in handy.

Here’s what it can do for you:

• Simplify the language . Some people use the tool to make their text more complex and formal, but more often than not, it only makes it unreadable. Simplifying it is a much better option.
• Shorten long or complex sentences . Using short sentences will help you create a more cohesive and reader-friendly paper.
• Substitute certain words with synonyms . This is especially useful when you want to say something complicated in a few words.
• Check your grammar . It’s always a good idea to proofread your paper to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Take a look at this text:

Within the contemporary art landscape, memes are used as agents of cultural discourse, where their inherent capacity for humor and cultural resonance help address the challenges of modern society. Memes fuse visual and textual elements, which allows them transcend traditional artistic mediums, thus offering artists a dynamic platform for critiquing current socio-political events. This combination of digital vernacular and artistic expression not only blurs the boundaries between high and low culture but also reflects the evolving nature of expression in the digital age.

It sounds overcomplicated, but we can improve it with the help of Chat GPT:

Want to know more? Check out our comprehensive guide on using ChatGPT to edit essays .

Tip : We recommend listening to the text of your research paper with our essay reader tool. This will help you effectively notice any inconsistencies, difficult wording, or confusing grammar patterns.

10. Create an Abstract with AI

When you’re done with the bulk of your research and have little time to work on your abstract, ChatGPT can be a real lifesaver.

Copying and pasting the whole paper into the chatbot may not be the best idea since the AI can miss important information and not include it in the abstract. Instead, it’s best to ask the tool to create short summaries for each section of your work.

What you need to do is start a new chat and use the following prompt with each portion of your text:

After that, you simply combine the summaries to create an abstract. You use ChatGPT to help you structure it with this prompt:

Note that the generated abstract contains phrases typical for ChatGPT, like “delves into.” If your professor decides to check such a text for AI, it will most probably be marked as suspicious. That’s why it is not a good idea to submit it as it is. Consider rewriting such an abstract manually or using an AI humanizer to quickly add a human touch.

Tip : Another easy way to create an abstract is to use our free online abstract generator .

11. Use ChatGPT to Format Your References

Creating a list of references is an essential part of any research. It’s also one of its most challenging and time-consuming aspects. After all, each formatting style has numerous specific characteristics that can easily get confused.

ChatGPT can save your time and help avoid unnecessary mistakes while citing the sources. The most important thing is not to ask the AI tool to generate references from scratch.

Instead, we recommend you find all the necessary data for the references yourself. Then, manually input these data into ChatGPT and ask it to create a reference for you. That way, you’ll ensure everything is formatted correctly and avoid citing nonexistent works in your paper.

🤔 Research Aspects AI Can’t Help You With

The list of research aspects ChatGPT can help you with may look very impressive, but don’t let it fool you! There are still plenty of things that shouldn’t be entrusted to AI tools . It’s essential to know about them since ChatGPT can easily make its users overestimate its abilities regarding research, writing, and editing.

Let’s see why you shouldn’t trust AI with the following:

• Experimental design and methodology,
• Moral reasoning,
• In-depth data analysis,
• Comprehensive literature review,
• Peer review and personalized guidance.

Experimental Design & Methodology

ChatGPT can do many things, but it still lacks the nuanced understanding and the expertise to design experiments and choose the correct methodology. The chatbot can suggest some general ideas or set the direction for your research, but you’ll have to work on your own to achieve the most accurate results.

Moral Reasoning

AI tools like ChatGPT lack moral reasoning and ethical judgment. They can write about ethical principles if you ask them to, but they don’t know how to apply these principles in their writing.

When you work on your research, considering small nuances and adhering to guidelines is very important, especially if your paper involves human subjects. For that reason, you have to rely on yourself to navigate ethical issues in your research.

In-Depth Data Analysis

To analyze or interpret the research data, you need to be well-versed in the subject of your study. While AI models work with a vast amount of data, they still lack in-depth information in certain study fields.

ChatGPT can be helpful if you want to analyze a small amount of data, but for more detailed and nuanced conclusions, it’s best to rely on yourself.

Comprehensive Literature Review

You can use ChatGPT to generate small summaries and lay the basis for your literature review. However, to make your research work, you’ll need an in-depth analysis that discusses the source’s relevance, credibility, and importance in the context of your research. This task is something ChatGPT can’t handle.

Peer Review & Personalized Guidance

Collaboration with other researchers in the same field is a chance to improve your knowledge, learn more about different perspectives, and receive valuable feedback. Surely, ChatGPT can check your paper for mistakes and evaluate it, but it can never replace a real peer review.

Remember to refrain from delegating these aspects to AI. This will help you avoid problems and make the most out of your research experience.

🚀 Use ChatGPT for Research Effectively with Custom GPTs

For a more effective AI-assisted writing process, we suggest you use custom models designed for specific research areas. Check out the best GPTs that can serve as your personal assistants.

Note : To use these custom models, you need a subscription to ChatGPT Plus. For $20 a month, you will access the most advanced LLM to date and enjoy many additional functions.

• SciSpace GPT . With this handy tool, you’ll have access to over 200 million academic articles right at your fingertips. SciSpace will give an accurate response to any scientific question and provide digestible summaries of research papers for a deeper study.
• Consensus . You can use this custom GPT to get an evidence-based answer to your question and conduct an in-depth literature search. Besides, Consensus can give you a proper bibliography list in the APA format.
• Scholar GPT . With this AI model, you can research millions of academic sources quickly and efficiently. Feel free to ask it for graphics, charts, and even real-time updates. It will also help you with problem-solving and NLP tasks.
• Research-Paper Analyzer . Want to have access to simplified summaries of complicated research papers? Try this GPT. It instantly extracts the main points of a study to facilitate easy comprehension. It can also analyze the credibility and relevance of a chosen paper.
• Academic Research Reviewer . Working with this GPT is like having a seasoned professor to help you refine your research paper. It will examine the depth of your literature review, underline the strengths and weaknesses of your paper, highlight gaps, and suggest areas for further research.
• PubMed Buddy . This GPT allows you to search for information in PubMed and UnPaywall databases. With PubMed Buddy, you’ll avoid going through countless irrelevant studies and have more time to spend on the more exciting research aspects.
• Chemistry Lab Partner . Get specific help on difficult chemistry questions with this tool. Analyzing data and explaining concepts are not the only functions of Chemistry Lab Partner. It can also assist with your lab work and even enable virtual experiments.
• Graduate Level Physics GPT . Try this custom GPT to make the advanced physics more understandable. It’s a practical tool that breaks complicated topics into brief and digestible explanations. Besides, it assists with physics problems and research.
• Physics Tutor . Do physics concepts seem too complex and intimidating to you? This GPT is here to sort things out. It will give simple and clear explanations understandable to physics students and laypeople who are just curious about how this world works.
• Math Expert . Working with this GPT is like having a helpful math tutor available anytime. It not only gives you a correct solution to any problem or equation but also provides a step-by-step explanation of how to get there.

💡 How to Use ChatGPT for Research: Key Takeaways

ChatGPT is a smart and helpful tool that can help you simplify some of the steps of your research process. You can use it to:

• Look for fresh and exciting topics,
• Create roadmaps,
• Find sources,
• Find real-life examples,
• Create research questions,
• Identify gaps in your outline,
• Analyze statistics,
• Edit your writing,
• Create abstracts,

One thing to remember is that relying on yourself is always a better option. Even though AI can save you lots of time, it still lacks ethical judgment, critical thinking, and expert knowledge in your field. If you decide to use ChatGPT in your research, make sure to double-check everything it produces and never use generated replies in your texts.

We hope you’ve found this article helpful and learned something new. Now, you know how to use ChatgGPT ethically, so you don’t have to worry about being caught. We suggest you check out your school’s guidelines before using the chatbot. Feel free to share your experiences working with AI tools in the comments below!

Want to know more about using ChatGPT in your studies? Check out our in-depth articles with tips on how to generate longer essays and make AI texts undetectable .

• How to Use ChatGPT to Do Research for Papers, Presentations, Studies, and More: ZDNet
• Three Ways to Leverage ChatGPT and Other Generative AI in Research: Times Higher Education
• The Top 10 Limitations of ChatGPT – Forbes
• Top 10 Drawbacks of Using ChatGPT in Academics: Analytics Insight
• The Best Custom GPTs to Make ChatGPT Even More Powerful: Digital Trends
• How to Use ChatGPT for Research and Essays: MakeUseOf
• Increase Your Creativity with ChatGPT – Psychology Today
• How Can I Use ChatGPT in My Research Work?: GitHub
• How to Use ChatGPT as a Research Tool: LinkedIn
• The Best AI Tools to Power Your Academic Research: Euronews
• ChatGPT and Fake Citations: Duke University
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ChatGPT for Research and Publication: A Step-by-Step Guide

Som s. biswas.

Department of Pediatric Radiology, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN.

Introduction

This commentary provides a concise step-by-step guide on using ChatGPT, an advanced natural language processing (NLP) model, for research and publication purposes. The guide assesses crucial aspects, including data preprocessing, fine-tuning techniques, prompt engineering, and ethical considerations. By addressing challenges related to biases, interpretability, and plagiarism, this commentary offers insights and recommendations for the responsible and ethical use of ChatGPT. The guide empowers researchers to ethically integrate ChatGPT effectively into their workflows, enhancing productivity and improving the quality of their scientific publications. Through clear instructions and guidelines, researchers can tap into the transformative potential of ChatGPT, driving scientific progress in a language-driven world.

In recent years, the field of NLP has witnessed remarkable advancements, bringing us closer to the realm of humanlike language generation. Among these advancements, ChatGPT, based on the groundbreaking GPT-3.5 architecture developed by OpenAI, stands as an impressive language model capable of generating coherent and contextually relevant text responses. With its ability to understand and respond to user inputs, ChatGPT has opened up new possibilities for various applications, including research and publication. 1 – 3

The traditional process of conducting research and publishing scientific papers has been significantly transformed by the emergence of ChatGPT. Researchers and authors can now leverage the power of this sophisticated language model to streamline and enhance their workflow, leading to improved efficiency and higher-quality publications. However, using ChatGPT effectively in the research and publication domain requires a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities, limitations, and best practices.

In this commentary I offer my thoughts for a step-by-step guide for researchers and authors who seek to harness the potential of ChatGPT in their research endeavors and publication efforts. By exploring various aspects, such as data preprocessing, fine-tuning techniques, prompt engineering, and ethical considerations, this guide will equip researchers with the necessary knowledge to harness the full potential of ChatGPT in their scientific pursuits. Moreover, this commentary will delve into the challenges associated with using ChatGPT for research and publication, including biases, interpretability, and concerns regarding plagiarism. By addressing these challenges directly, I aim to provide researchers with valuable insights and recommendations to navigate these important issues and ensure the responsible and ethical use of ChatGPT as a research tool. 4

The significance of my guide lies in its potential to bridge the gap between the rapid progress of language models like ChatGPT and the research and publication process. By elucidating the intricacies of integrating ChatGPT into scientific workflows, researchers will be empowered to leverage this advanced technology effectively, thereby enhancing the overall quality and impact of their research output. 5 In the following sections, I present a comprehensive overview of the steps involved in using ChatGPT for research and publication.

Step 1: Title and Title Page Creation by ChatGPT

ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in generating titles for research papers. Its ability to understand and generate humanlike text allows it to analyze and synthesize information provided by researchers to craft concise and impactful titles. By leveraging its vast knowledge base and language capabilities, ChatGPT can assist in capturing the essence of a research paper, conveying the main focus and contributions succinctly. Researchers can collaborate with ChatGPT by providing relevant information, such as the subject, objectives, methodology, and key findings of their study. ChatGPT can then generate multiple title options, offering different perspectives and angles that researchers can consider. This collaboration with ChatGPT can save time and stimulate creativity, helping researchers refine their titles to accurately represent their work and engage potential readers. ChatGPT can then be used to create the entire title page and then can also customize based on each journal’s recommendations.

For example:

Thus, we see that ChatGPT can write an entire title page based on just the title and author details. We notice that ChatGPT has created an email address that is incorrect and needs manual rectification. However, the rest of the title page, including keywords and the running title, is appropriate.

Step 2: Abstract/Summary Creation by chatGPT

ChatGPT can assist in condensing complex information into a clear and engaging abstract/summary, helping researchers communicate the significance and novelty of their research to a wider audience. By leveraging the language proficiency of ChatGPT, researchers can save time and effort in crafting abstracts while ensuring that the key aspects of their study are accurately represented.

In this example, we demonstrate that ChatGPT can create an entire abstract just by using the title alone. However, the more information researchers provide (preferably the entire body of the paper should be entered into chatGPT), the more accurate the abstract becomes.

Step 3: Introduction Creation by ChatGPT

By collaborating with ChatGPT, researchers can provide key information, such as the background, significance, and objectives of their study. ChatGPT can then generate a well-structured introduction that sets the context, highlights the relevance of the research, and outlines the paper’s objectives. Also, ChatGPT can be used to generate keywords and generate an abbreviations list from the article by using prompts. However, it is important to note that the generated introduction should be reviewed, customized, and refined by the researchers to align with their specific study and writing style.

In the example below, we note that ChatGPT has not only created an introduction but also the objectives of the study, which can then be edited by the human author.

Step 4: Can ChatGPT Create a Literature Review?

Yes, ChatGPT can help generate a literature review, but it is important to note that it may not have access to the most up-to-date research articles and studies due to copyrights and limited access to some journals. Additionally, a literature review typically requires a comprehensive analysis of multiple sources, so the generated response may not cover all relevant studies. Nonetheless, it can assist in providing a basic literature review on a given topic, which will need human authors to add to and edit it.

As we can see, ChatGPT is not as good at giving a detailed review of the literature as it is at summarizing contents or creating an introduction. Thus, its use is limited, if there is any at all, in this section of the paper.

Step 5: Can ChatGPT Assist in Brainstorming the Methodology of Studies?

ChatGPT can be a helpful tool in conceptualizing the methodology for research papers. By engaging in a conversation with ChatGPT, researchers can discuss their research objectives, study design, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques. ChatGPT’s natural language understanding allows it to provide suggestions and insights based on its knowledge base and understanding of research methodologies. Although ChatGPT can assist in generating ideas and providing guidance, it is important for researchers to critically evaluate and adapt the suggestions to align with their specific research goals and requirements.

Although the methodology is something that is unique to each paper and needs a human researcher to conceptualize it, we see in this example that ChatGPT can assist by giving ideas and examples based on the input of the title by the human researcher. Thus, ChatGPT can be part of brainstorming sessions when conceptualizing a study, although this section needs significant editing by a human, unlike the introduction or summary.

Step 6: Do Not Use ChatGPT for Fabricating Patient Data or Results!

This section of the paper must be authentic, and ChatGPT has a limited role, if any, because patient data have to be original. ChatGPT also currently cannot analyze clinical data compared with statistical software, like SPSS Statistics and Base SAS. However, Microsoft appears to be developing an Excel copilot that uses AI to create graphs and plots, and its use needs to be evaluated once it is released to the public. 6

Step 7: Discussion and Conclusions

This section of the paper can be generated by ChatGPT if all results are pasted as input; however, this section also needs manual editing because inaccuracies are common. By discussing their research with ChatGPT, researchers can also identify potential limitations, discuss the broader implications of their findings, and propose future research directions. Although ChatGPT can generate suggestions and facilitate the thought process, it is important for researchers to critically evaluate the information provided and ensure that the Discussion and Conclusion sections align with the specific research objectives and findings of their study. Ultimately, ChatGPT can serve as a supportive tool in developing a comprehensive and well-rounded discussion and conclusion for research papers.

Step 8: References

As per the author's experience, although ChatGPT is capable of creating references for an article, most of them are incorrect. So, using ChatGPT for creating references is not recommended. However, ChatGPT can convert references into any journaling style if the references are entered into ChatGPT and it is asked to convert them into a specific style.

Disadvantages of Using ChatGPT in Research

Although ChatGPT offers numerous advantages for assisting in the writing of research papers, there are also some important potential disadvantages to consider:

• Lack of domain expertise: ChatGPT is a general-purpose language model trained on a diverse range of Internet text, which means it may lack the specific domain expertise required for certain research topics. It may generate responses that are not accurate or well informed in specialized fields, potentially leading to incorrect or misleading information in research papers.
• Inconsistency and variability: ChatGPT’s responses can be inconsistent and vary depending on the input phrasing or prompt formulation. This can lead to unpredictability in generating reliable and coherent content, requiring additional effort to refine and ensure accuracy in research papers.
• Limited control over output: Although researchers can guide the model’s responses through prompts, ChatGPT’s generation process is still primarily autonomous. Researchers have limited control over the precise content and structure of the generated text, which may require careful editing and review to align with specific research goals, standards, and above all, accuracy.
• Biases and ethical considerations: Language models like ChatGPT can inadvertently reflect biases present in the training data. These biases may perpetuate existing societal or cultural biases in research papers, potentially leading to unfair or discriminatory content. The careful examination and mitigation of biases are crucial to ensure ethical and unbiased research output. 7
• Lack of interpretability: ChatGPT’s decision-making process is complex and not easily interpretable. Researchers may struggle to understand the reasoning behind the model’s generated responses, making it challenging to assess the reliability and credibility of the information provided. Ensuring transparency and interpretability in research papers becomes more challenging with such models. ChatGPT should cite the sources for its data, like Google Bard does.
• Plagiarism concerns: Because of its vast training data from the Internet, ChatGPT may inadvertently generate text that resembles or replicates existing content without proper citation or attribution. Researchers must be cautious about unintentional plagiarism and ensure that generated content is appropriately referenced and original. So, all ChatGPt-generated articles need to be double checked using antiplagiarism software.

In this commentary I have provided a comprehensive step-by-step guide for researchers and authors on harnessing the power of ChatGPT in the realm of research and publication. By exploring crucial aspects, such as data preprocessing, fine-tuning techniques, prompt engineering, and ethical considerations, the guide equips researchers with the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively integrate ChatGPT into their scientific workflows. 8

Through clear instructions, examples, and guidelines, researchers can navigate the complexities of using ChatGPT, leading to enhanced productivity and improved quality in their research output. Moreover, I address the challenges associated with biases, interpretability, and plagiarism concerns, ensuring the responsible and ethical usage of ChatGPT as a research tool.

The significance of this research lies in its ability to bridge the gap between the rapid advancements in language models like ChatGPT and the research and publication process. By empowering researchers with the skills to leverage ChatGPT effectively, this guide fosters innovation, drives scientific progress, and opens up new possibilities for transformative contributions to various fields. 9

As language-driven technologies continue to evolve, researchers must stay abreast of the latest advancements and best practices. The step-by-step guide presented in this commentary serves as a valuable resource, providing researchers with the knowledge and guidance necessary to maximize the potential of ChatGPT in their research endeavors. By embracing the capabilities of ChatGPT and ensuring its responsible and ethical use, researchers can revolutionize the way research and publications are conducted. With ChatGPT as a powerful tool in their arsenal, researchers are poised to make significant strides in their respective fields, pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and ushering in a new era of language-driven innovation. 10

However, and to reiterate, I cannot overemphasize that ChatGPT has, at present, many disadvantages, including inconsistencies, bias, and plagiarism concerns, that must be addressed by the human author before the article is submitted for publication to a journal, as well as prior to publication, because the human author(s) is solely responsible for their research integrity and accurate reporting.

In conclusion, I have attempted to provide researchers with a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively leverage ChatGPT for research and publication purposes. It has also highlighted the problems and precautions that the human author(s) must take before publishing ChatGPT-generated content. By embracing this step-by-step guide, researchers can unlock the full potential of ChatGPT, driving scientific progress and shaping the future of research and publications.

• Please use ChatGPT only if allowed by your institution, research lab, and the journal in question.
• Please acknowledge ChatGPT within your manuscript/published paper wherever you are using it.
• Please do not fabricate or plagiarize data. ChatGPT can be used only for summarizing texts, improving English writeups, and brainstorming ideas, and not for creating fabricated research raw data.

Acknowledgment.

The author acknowledges that this article was partially generated by ChatGPT (powered by OpenAI’s language model, GPT-3; http://openai.com ). The editing was performed by the human author.

Disclosures. The author declare no conflicts or financial interest in any product or service mentioned in the manuscript, including grants, equipment, medications, employment, gifts, and honoraria.

Home → Academic Writing → How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Research Paper: Tips and Tricks to Get You Started

How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Research Paper: Tips and Tricks to Get You Started

Jordan Kruszynski

• January 4, 2024

If you’re an academic, you’ve probably spent a lot of time planning and writing research papers. It’s a fine art, and one that requires a fair amount of skill, precision and preparation. But whether you’re an old master in the field, or a rookie embarking on your first serious research paper, there are tools that can help you to simplify the planning stages and organise your thoughts more effectively.

One of those tools is the (in)famous ChatGPT , and it’s this that we’ll be focusing on in our article. In the right hands, ChatGPT can become a powerful research tool that will make your paper-writing that little bit easier. So sit back, relax, and discover our tips and tricks for using ChatGPT to write a research paper.

What is ChatGPT?

Just in case you don’t already know, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence tool developed by OpenAI that can help you with your research. It uses natural language processing to understand what you’re looking for and provide you with relevant information. You can ask it questions, and it will provide you with answers in a conversational style, as well as offer sources to back up its information.

One of the biggest advantages of ChatGPT is that it can save you time. Instead of spending hours searching for sources, you can simply ask ChatGPT for help. This can bring you a reliable list of sources for further investigation fairly quickly. It’s crucial to note however that the AI shouldn’t be exploited to do the actual writing of the paper for you. This could see you accused of plagiarism or misconduct, and besides, as a researcher, you’re probably rightfully proud of your ability to write a compelling paper.

Another advantage of ChatGPT is that it’s always available (even when libraries or other sources of information might be inaccessible) so you can work on your research paper at any time of day or night.

Interested in learning more about how AI programs like ChatGPT are changing the academic landscape? Listen to Oxford researcher Samantha-Kaye Johnston’s views from the frontline in this exciting episode of The Research Beat podcast.

The benefits of using ChatGPT to write a research paper

There are many benefits to using ChatGPT for research papers. Firstly, as we mentioned earlier, it can save you time . A slow drag of several hours looking for specific sources can be reduced to just a few minutes with the AI’s help.

Secondly, it can help you find sources that you might not have found otherwise . ChatGPT has access to a wide range of sources, including academic journals and books.

Thirdly, it can help you organise your research . ChatGPT can provide you with a summary of the information you’ve gathered, making it easier to analyse and integrate into your research paper.

How to use ChatGPT to write a research paper – a step by step guide

• Start by creating a list of questions that you want to answer in your research paper.
• Open ChatGPT and ask it one of the questions on your list, for example, ‘What is the critical history of feminist literature in Europe?’
• ChatGPT will provide you with a list of sources to check out.
• Read through the sources and take notes on the information that is relevant to your research question.
• Repeat steps 2-4 for each question on your list.
• Once you’ve gathered all of your information, organise it into an outline for your research paper.
• Use the information you’ve gathered to write your research paper.

Working with your sources

Once you have your sources in order, you might want to use prompts to get help from ChatGPT with other parts of the writing process. A prompt is a specific instruction to the AI that can give you tailored information or responses. For example, if you’re struggling to understand part of another research paper, you could use the following prompt:

‘Please explain the following paragraphs in simple words. I am having trouble understanding (insert concept here).’

Input the prompt along with the relevant passage from the source, and ChatGPT will provide a summary that could help you to unlock your understanding of the tricky concept.

Looking for ChatGPT prompts tailor-made for academics? Check out Audemic’s list of over 50 prompts to help you with your work and research!

Writing tips and tricks for using ChatGPT

When using ChatGPT to write a research paper, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Firstly, make sure that you’re using reliable sources . ChatGPT can provide you with a list of sources, but it’s up to you to determine which ones are reliable.

Secondly, make sure that you’re paraphrasing the information you’ve gathered in your own words . You don’t want to cheat or be accused of it.

Finally, make sure that you’re using the information you’ve gathered to answer your research questions . Everything you uncover through ChatGPT should be used to feed your own understanding and improve the quality and precision of your answers.

Common mistakes to avoid when using ChatGPT to write a research paper

While ChatGPT is an excellent tool for research papers, there are some common mistakes to avoid:

• Crucially, don’t rely too heavily on ChatGPT. It’s essential to do some of your research on your own and use ChatGPT to supplement it.
• Don’t forget to cite your sources correctly. Just because ChatGPT provided you with the information doesn’t mean that you don’t need to cite it. Moreover, ChatGPT cannot actually produce academic citations for you.
• Always remember to proofread your research paper carefully, especially if you’ve used AI elements to construct it.

ChatGPT vs. traditional research methods

While traditional research methods have their advantages and always will, ChatGPT, as we’ve seen, has some of its own. We think one of the best uses for AI programs like ChatGPT is to accelerate parts of the paper-writing process that would otherwise take hours. If you can use the AI to produce a list of interesting and relevant sources, then you can get to work quickly as an academic, studying and analysing those sources to determine their value within your paper. In general, if you approach ChatGPT with an attitude of maintaining quality and integrity, then it can only enhance your work.

Final Thoughts

ChatGPT is everywhere at the moment, and while it has stirred up a great deal of controversy thanks to its implications for academic integrity, it can be an excellent tool for helping to write research papers . The key is using it correctly, and not relying too heavily on it. Focusing on how it can enhance your already-sharp academic writing skills will allow you to save time, find plenty of valuable sources, and organise your paper’s structure more effectively. And that’s how to use ChatGPT to write a research paper!

ChatGPT is not the only AI tool that can help with these parts of the paper-writing puzzle. If you want to listen to academic papers, break them down into digestible pieces and freely take notes on them, then Audemic is waiting for you. Try it for free today!

Keep striving, researchers! ✨

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How To Use ChatGPT To Write A Literature Review: Prompts & References

In the rapidly evolving world of academic research, the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT has transformed the traditional approach to literature reviews . As a researcher, you should also leverage on this tool to make your research work easier.

In this post, explore how ChatGPT can enhance the literature review process. We’ll explore how specific prompts can effectively guide this advanced AI model to generate insightful content, while ensuring accuracy, relevance, and academic integrity in their scholarly work.

How to Use ChatGPT for Writing a Literature Review

Understanding ChatGPT’s Limitations

While it can efficiently generate content, streamline the research process, and provide a comprehensive understanding of relevant literature, its capabilities are not without constraints. Here are some for you to consider:

Dependence On Pre-Existing Datasets

Since ChatGPT is a language model trained on available data, it may not include the most recent research papers or cutting-edge findings in a specific field. This gap can lead to a lack of current state-of-research insights, particularly crucial in fields like technology and science where advancements happen rapidly.

May Lack Depth And Context

ChatGPT, while able to produce summaries and synthesize information, might not fully grasp the nuanced arguments or complex theories specific to a research topic. This limitation necessitates that researchers critically evaluate and supplement AI-generated text with thorough analysis and insights from recent systematic reviews and primary sources.

Risk Of Plagiarism

Although ChatGPT can generate human-like text, it’s vital to ensure that the content for your literature review is original and properly cited. Relying solely on ChatGPT to write a literature review defeats the purpose of engaging deeply with the material and developing a personal understanding of the literature.

Not A Total Replacement of A Researcher

While ChatGPT can assist non-native English speakers in crafting clear and concise academic writing, it’s not a replacement for the human ability to contextualize and interpret research findings. Researchers must guide the AI model with specific prompts and leverage it as a tool rather than a substitute for comprehensive analysis.

By keeping these limitations in mind, ChatGPT can be a valuable aid in the literature review process, but it should be used judiciously and in conjunction with traditional research methods.

Defining Research Objective

When starting on writing a literature review, the initial step involves using ChatGPT to define your research question or hypothesis.

The AI model’s ability to respond with a summary of the current state of research in your field can provide a comprehensive understanding, especially for systematic reviews or research papers.

For example, by inputting a prompt related to your research topic, ChatGPT can generate human-like text, summarizing prior research and highlighting relevant literature.

One insider tip for effectively using ChatGPT in the literature review process is to leverage its natural language processing capabilities to identify relevant keywords.

These keywords are crucial for non-native English speakers or those new to a research field, as they streamline the search for pertinent academic writing. Additionally, ChatGPT can guide you in understanding the context of your research topic, offering insights that are often challenging to find.

Using AI language models like ChatGPT for generating content for your literature review is efficient and effective, saving valuable time. However, it’s vital to critically evaluate the generated text to ensure it aligns with your research objectives and to avoid plagiarism.

ChatGPT’s ability to synthesize large amounts of information can aid in developing a clear and concise outline, but remember, it’s a guide, not a replacement for human analysis.

Despite these limitations, ChatGPT provides a unique advantage in conducting literature reviews. It can automate mundane tasks, allowing researchers to focus on analysis and critical thinking.

Identifying Keywords and Search Terms

Using ChatGPT to identify relevant keywords related to your research topic can significantly streamline your workflow.

For instance, when you input a summary of your research question into ChatGPT, the AI model can generate a list of pertinent keywords.

These keywords are not just randomly selected; they are based on the vast amounts of information in ChatGPT’s dataset, making them highly relevant and often inclusive of terms that are current in your research field.

An insider tip for leveraging ChatGPT effectively is to guide the AI with clear and concise prompts.

For example, asking ChatGPT to: “summarize key themes in [specific field] research papers from the last five years” can yield a list of keywords and phrases that are not only relevant but also reflective of the current state of research.

This approach is particularly beneficial for conducting systematic reviews or for non-native English speakers who might be unfamiliar with specific academic jargon.

While ChatGPT can provide a comprehensive understanding of relevant literature and help automate the identification of keywords, it’s important to critically evaluate the generated content.

Researchers should use ChatGPT as a tool to augment their research process, not as a replacement for human insight.

It’s crucial to mind the limitations of the AI model and ensure that the keywords identified align with the research topic and objectives.

Creating an Initial Literature Review Outline

The key to using ChatGPT effectively in crafting an initial outline lies in its ability to generate content based on specific prompts.

For instance, a researcher working on organic photovoltaic devices can input a prompt into ChatGPT, such as “Help me create a structure for a literature review on organic photovoltaic devices.”

The AI model, using its comprehensive understanding of the research topic, can then produce a preliminary structure, including sections like:

• Introduction
• Advances in materials and technology, performance, and efficiency.

This generated outline serves as a valuable starting point. It helps in organizing thoughts and determining the key areas that the literature review should cover. I

mportantly, researchers can refine and expand this initial outline as they delve deeper into their topic, ensuring it aligns with their specific research question and the current state of research.

However, while ChatGPT can streamline the review process and save valuable time in creating an initial outline, researchers should not solely rely on it.

The content generated by ChatGPT must be critically evaluated and supplemented with in-depth research. This involves:

• Reading systematic reviews
• Reading research papers, and
• Summarizing relevant literature to ensure the review is comprehensive and up-to-date.

Get ChatGPT To Help You During Research, Using The Right Prompts

The key to effectively using ChatGPT in this process lies in crafting the right prompts, guiding the AI to generate relevant and useful content. 

When initiating a literature review, the prompt should aim for a broad understanding of the research topic. For instance, asking ChatGPT to:

• “Give a brief overview of research done on [topic]”
• “What are some of the recent findings on the [topic] in research?” or 
• “Summarize the historical development of [topic] in academia”

Helps in capturing the general landscape of the field. These prompts assist in identifying key theories, methodologies, and authors within the research area. As the review progresses, more specific prompts are necessary to delve deeper into individual studies. Queries like:

• “Summarize the main arguments and findings of [specific paper]” or
• “What are the strengths and weaknesses of [specific paper]?”

enable ChatGPT to provide detailed insights into particular research papers, aiding in understanding their contribution to the broader field. Comparative prompts are also crucial in synthesizing information across multiple works. Asking ChatGPT to:

• “Compare and contrast the methodologies of [paper 1] and [paper 2]” or
• “How do the findings of [paper 1] and [paper 2] agree or disagree?”

helps in discerning the nuances and disparities in the literature. In the final stages of the literature review, prompts should focus on summarizing findings and identifying emerging trends or gaps. For example:

• “What trends or patterns have emerged from the literature on [topic]?” or
• “What future research directions are suggested by the literature on [topic]?”

We will share more on these ChatGPT prompts in the later part of this post, read on.

Reviewing ChatGPT’s Responses

When using ChatGPT to write a literature review, it’s crucial to critically evaluate its responses.

Firstly, researchers should cross-reference the information provided by ChatGPT with actual research papers.

This step ensures the accuracy of the data and helps in identifying any discrepancies or outdated information, given that ChatGPT’s dataset may not include the most recent studies.

Another essential aspect is assessing the coherence and depth of the AI-generated text. ChatGPT can summarize and synthesize information efficiently, but it might not capture the nuances of complex theories or research arguments.

Researchers should ensure that the content aligns with their research question and systematically reviews the topic comprehensively. This is where a researcher’s value comes in.

Additionally, verifying the originality of the content is vital to avoid plagiarism. While ChatGPT can generate human-like text, researchers must ensure that the AI-generated content is used as a guide rather than a verbatim source. 

Proper citations and references are essential to maintain the integrity of the literature review. Avoid torpedoing your own research by committing plagiarism.

Ensuring Coherence and Flow

One of the challenges when using such advanced AI language models is ensuring the coherence and flow of the final document. This aspect is crucial as it determines the readability and academic rigor of the literature review.

ChatGPT can generate vast amounts of content on a wide range of topics, responding efficiently to prompts and synthesizing information from its extensive dataset.

However, the content generated by ChatGPT, while informative, might not always align seamlessly with the specific research question or maintain a consistent narrative flow.

To tackle this, researchers need to take an active role in guiding ChatGPT and subsequently refining its output.

A practical approach is to use ChatGPT as a starting point, leveraging its ability to quickly provide summaries, synthesize relevant literature, and identify key references and keywords related to the research topic. For example, prompts like:

• “Summarize the current research on [topic]” or
• “Identify key debates in [topic]”

Can yield valuable initial insights.

Once this foundational information is obtained, the crucial task is to carefully review and edit the AI-generated content.

This involves connecting the dots between different sections, ensuring that each part contributes meaningfully to addressing the research question, and refining the language to maintain academic standards.

It’s also essential to check for and avoid plagiarism, ensuring that all sources are correctly cited.

In addition, considering the vast amounts of information ChatGPT can access, it’s vital to verify the accuracy and relevance of the content.

Researchers should cross-reference AI-generated summaries with actual research papers, especially the most recent ones, as ChatGPT’s dataset may not include the latest studies.

Editing and Proofreading

Now that your literature review is mostly written out, now focus on the editing and proofreading. The content generated by ChatGPT needs to be meticulously reviewed and edited. Here are the steps:

• Verifying the accuracy of the information. Researchers must cross-check the AI-generated content against actual research papers and systematic reviews. This ensures that the latest studies are accurately represented.
• Improve coherence and flow. Researchers should restructure sentences, ensure logical progression of ideas, and maintain a consistent academic tone throughout the document.
• Checking for plagiarism. Despite ChatGPT’s ability to generate human-like text, researchers must ensure that all sources are correctly cited and that the review does not inadvertently replicate existing material.
• Check Grammar and Spelling: Editing should encompass grammar checks, vocabulary refinement, and ensuring that the language used is appropriate for an academic audience.
• Update Citation: Review citation, or reference list to ensure everything is cited correctly, and the citation list is written out to your required standard, be it MLA, Chicago, or APA.

What ChatGPT Prompts To Use When Writing A Literature Review?

There are many ways to use ChatGPT to write literature review, usually by using the right prompts. Here’s how specific types of prompts can be effectively employed, with multiple examples for each category:

• “Provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research on [topic].”
• “Summarize the current understanding and key findings in the field of [topic].”
• “Detail the dominant theoretical frameworks currently used in [topic].”
• “Describe the evolution of theoretical approaches in [topic] over the past decade.”
• “Identify and discuss the major debates or controversies in [topic].”
• “What are the conflicting viewpoints or schools of thought in [topic]?”
• “List the leading researchers in [topic] and summarize their key contributions.”
• “Who are the emerging authors in [topic], and what unique perspectives do they offer?”
• “Explain the most common research methodologies used in studies about [topic].”
• “How have the methodologies in [topic] research evolved recently?”
• “Trace the historical development and major milestones in [topic].”
• “Provide a timeline of the key discoveries and shifts in understanding in [topic].”
• “What significant paradigm shifts have occurred in [topic] in the last twenty years?”
• “How has the focus of research in [topic] changed over time?”
• “Analyze the methodology and conclusions of [specific paper].”
• “Discuss the impact and reception of [specific paper] in the field of [topic].”
• “Compare the results and methodologies of [paper 1] and [paper 2] in [topic].”
• “How do [paper 1] and [paper 2] differ in their approach to [topic]?”
• “Based on current literature, what are the suggested future research directions in [topic]?”
• “Identify gaps in the literature of [topic] that could be explored in future studies.”

By using these types of prompts, researchers can guide ChatGPT to produce content that is not only relevant to their literature review but also rich in detail and scope.

Wrapping Up: Use Other AI Tools Too, Not Just ChatGPT

In conclusion, while ChatGPT serves as a powerful ally in the literature review process, it’s important to recognize it as one of many AI tools available to researchers as well. Diversifying your AI toolkit can enhance the depth and breadth of your review, offering varied perspectives and methodologies.

As AI continues to evolve, embracing a range of these tools can lead to more comprehensive, nuanced, and innovative academic writing, expanding the horizons of research and scholarly exploration beyond what we currently envision.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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Step 1: title and title page creation by chatgpt, step 2: abstract/summary creation by chatgpt, step 3: introduction creation by chatgpt, step 4: can chatgpt create a literature review, step 5: can chatgpt assist in brainstorming the methodology of studies, step 6: do not use chatgpt for fabricating patient data or results, step 7: discussion and conclusions, step 8: references, disadvantages of using chatgpt in research, acknowledgment., chatgpt for research and publication: a step-by-step guide.

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Som S. Biswas; ChatGPT for Research and Publication: A Step-by-Step Guide. The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics 1 October 2023; 28 (6): 576–584. doi: https://doi.org/10.5863/1551-6776-28.6.576

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This commentary provides a concise step-by-step guide on using ChatGPT, an advanced natural language processing (NLP) model, for research and publication purposes. The guide assesses crucial aspects, including data preprocessing, fine-tuning techniques, prompt engineering, and ethical considerations. By addressing challenges related to biases, interpretability, and plagiarism, this commentary offers insights and recommendations for the responsible and ethical use of ChatGPT. The guide empowers researchers to ethically integrate ChatGPT effectively into their workflows, enhancing productivity and improving the quality of their scientific publications. Through clear instructions and guidelines, researchers can tap into the transformative potential of ChatGPT, driving scientific progress in a language-driven world.

In recent years, the field of NLP has witnessed remarkable advancements, bringing us closer to the realm of humanlike language generation. Among these advancements, ChatGPT, based on the groundbreaking GPT-3.5 architecture developed by OpenAI, stands as an impressive language model capable of generating coherent and contextually relevant text responses. With its ability to understand and respond to user inputs, ChatGPT has opened up new possibilities for various applications, including research and publication. 1 – 3  

The traditional process of conducting research and publishing scientific papers has been significantly transformed by the emergence of ChatGPT. Researchers and authors can now leverage the power of this sophisticated language model to streamline and enhance their workflow, leading to improved efficiency and higher-quality publications. However, using ChatGPT effectively in the research and publication domain requires a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities, limitations, and best practices.

In this commentary I offer my thoughts for a step-by-step guide for researchers and authors who seek to harness the potential of ChatGPT in their research endeavors and publication efforts. By exploring various aspects, such as data preprocessing, fine-tuning techniques, prompt engineering, and ethical considerations, this guide will equip researchers with the necessary knowledge to harness the full potential of ChatGPT in their scientific pursuits. Moreover, this commentary will delve into the challenges associated with using ChatGPT for research and publication, including biases, interpretability, and concerns regarding plagiarism. By addressing these challenges directly, I aim to provide researchers with valuable insights and recommendations to navigate these important issues and ensure the responsible and ethical use of ChatGPT as a research tool. 4  

The significance of my guide lies in its potential to bridge the gap between the rapid progress of language models like ChatGPT and the research and publication process. By elucidating the intricacies of integrating ChatGPT into scientific workflows, researchers will be empowered to leverage this advanced technology effectively, thereby enhancing the overall quality and impact of their research output. 5   In the following sections, I present a comprehensive overview of the steps involved in using ChatGPT for research and publication.

ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in generating titles for research papers. Its ability to understand and generate humanlike text allows it to analyze and synthesize information provided by researchers to craft concise and impactful titles. By leveraging its vast knowledge base and language capabilities, ChatGPT can assist in capturing the essence of a research paper, conveying the main focus and contributions succinctly. Researchers can collaborate with ChatGPT by providing relevant information, such as the subject, objectives, methodology, and key findings of their study. ChatGPT can then generate multiple title options, offering different perspectives and angles that researchers can consider. This collaboration with ChatGPT can save time and stimulate creativity, helping researchers refine their titles to accurately represent their work and engage potential readers. ChatGPT can then be used to create the entire title page and then can also customize based on each journal’s recommendations.

For example:

Thus, we see that ChatGPT can write an entire title page based on just the title and author details. We notice that ChatGPT has created an email address that is incorrect and needs manual rectification. However, the rest of the title page, including keywords and the running title, is appropriate.

ChatGPT can assist in condensing complex information into a clear and engaging abstract/summary, helping researchers communicate the significance and novelty of their research to a wider audience. By leveraging the language proficiency of ChatGPT, researchers can save time and effort in crafting abstracts while ensuring that the key aspects of their study are accurately represented.

In this example, we demonstrate that ChatGPT can create an entire abstract just by using the title alone. However, the more information researchers provide (preferably the entire body of the paper should be entered into chatGPT), the more accurate the abstract becomes.

By collaborating with ChatGPT, researchers can provide key information, such as the background, significance, and objectives of their study. ChatGPT can then generate a well-structured introduction that sets the context, highlights the relevance of the research, and outlines the paper’s objectives. Also, ChatGPT can be used to generate keywords and generate an abbreviations list from the article by using prompts. However, it is important to note that the generated introduction should be reviewed, customized, and refined by the researchers to align with their specific study and writing style.

In the example below, we note that ChatGPT has not only created an introduction but also the objectives of the study, which can then be edited by the human author.

Yes, ChatGPT can help generate a literature review, but it is important to note that it may not have access to the most up-to-date research articles and studies due to copyrights and limited access to some journals. Additionally, a literature review typically requires a comprehensive analysis of multiple sources, so the generated response may not cover all relevant studies. Nonetheless, it can assist in providing a basic literature review on a given topic, which will need human authors to add to and edit it.

As we can see, ChatGPT is not as good at giving a detailed review of the literature as it is at summarizing contents or creating an introduction. Thus, its use is limited, if there is any at all, in this section of the paper.

ChatGPT can be a helpful tool in conceptualizing the methodology for research papers. By engaging in a conversation with ChatGPT, researchers can discuss their research objectives, study design, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques. ChatGPT’s natural language understanding allows it to provide suggestions and insights based on its knowledge base and understanding of research methodologies. Although ChatGPT can assist in generating ideas and providing guidance, it is important for researchers to critically evaluate and adapt the suggestions to align with their specific research goals and requirements.

Although the methodology is something that is unique to each paper and needs a human researcher to conceptualize it, we see in this example that ChatGPT can assist by giving ideas and examples based on the input of the title by the human researcher. Thus, ChatGPT can be part of brainstorming sessions when conceptualizing a study, although this section needs significant editing by a human, unlike the introduction or summary.

This section of the paper must be authentic, and ChatGPT has a limited role, if any, because patient data have to be original. ChatGPT also currently cannot analyze clinical data compared with statistical software, like SPSS Statistics and Base SAS. However, Microsoft appears to be developing an Excel copilot that uses AI to create graphs and plots, and its use needs to be evaluated once it is released to the public. 6  

This section of the paper can be generated by ChatGPT if all results are pasted as input; however, this section also needs manual editing because inaccuracies are common. By discussing their research with ChatGPT, researchers can also identify potential limitations, discuss the broader implications of their findings, and propose future research directions. Although ChatGPT can generate suggestions and facilitate the thought process, it is important for researchers to critically evaluate the information provided and ensure that the Discussion and Conclusion sections align with the specific research objectives and findings of their study. Ultimately, ChatGPT can serve as a supportive tool in developing a comprehensive and well-rounded discussion and conclusion for research papers.

As per the author's experience, although ChatGPT is capable of creating references for an article, most of them are incorrect. So, using ChatGPT for creating references is not recommended. However, ChatGPT can convert references into any journaling style if the references are entered into ChatGPT and it is asked to convert them into a specific style.

Lack of domain expertise: ChatGPT is a general-purpose language model trained on a diverse range of Internet text, which means it may lack the specific domain expertise required for certain research topics. It may generate responses that are not accurate or well informed in specialized fields, potentially leading to incorrect or misleading information in research papers.

Inconsistency and variability: ChatGPT’s responses can be inconsistent and vary depending on the input phrasing or prompt formulation. This can lead to unpredictability in generating reliable and coherent content, requiring additional effort to refine and ensure accuracy in research papers.

Limited control over output: Although researchers can guide the model’s responses through prompts, ChatGPT’s generation process is still primarily autonomous. Researchers have limited control over the precise content and structure of the generated text, which may require careful editing and review to align with specific research goals, standards, and above all, accuracy.

Biases and ethical considerations: Language models like ChatGPT can inadvertently reflect biases present in the training data. These biases may perpetuate existing societal or cultural biases in research papers, potentially leading to unfair or discriminatory content. The careful examination and mitigation of biases are crucial to ensure ethical and unbiased research output. 7  

Lack of interpretability: ChatGPT’s decision-making process is complex and not easily interpretable. Researchers may struggle to understand the reasoning behind the model’s generated responses, making it challenging to assess the reliability and credibility of the information provided. Ensuring transparency and interpretability in research papers becomes more challenging with such models. ChatGPT should cite the sources for its data, like Google Bard does.

Plagiarism concerns: Because of its vast training data from the Internet, ChatGPT may inadvertently generate text that resembles or replicates existing content without proper citation or attribution. Researchers must be cautious about unintentional plagiarism and ensure that generated content is appropriately referenced and original. So, all ChatGPt-generated articles need to be double checked using antiplagiarism software.

In this commentary I have provided a comprehensive step-by-step guide for researchers and authors on harnessing the power of ChatGPT in the realm of research and publication. By exploring crucial aspects, such as data preprocessing, fine-tuning techniques, prompt engineering, and ethical considerations, the guide equips researchers with the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively integrate ChatGPT into their scientific workflows. 8  

Through clear instructions, examples, and guidelines, researchers can navigate the complexities of using ChatGPT, leading to enhanced productivity and improved quality in their research output. Moreover, I address the challenges associated with biases, interpretability, and plagiarism concerns, ensuring the responsible and ethical usage of ChatGPT as a research tool.

The significance of this research lies in its ability to bridge the gap between the rapid advancements in language models like ChatGPT and the research and publication process. By empowering researchers with the skills to leverage ChatGPT effectively, this guide fosters innovation, drives scientific progress, and opens up new possibilities for transformative contributions to various fields. 9  

As language-driven technologies continue to evolve, researchers must stay abreast of the latest advancements and best practices. The step-by-step guide presented in this commentary serves as a valuable resource, providing researchers with the knowledge and guidance necessary to maximize the potential of ChatGPT in their research endeavors. By embracing the capabilities of ChatGPT and ensuring its responsible and ethical use, researchers can revolutionize the way research and publications are conducted. With ChatGPT as a powerful tool in their arsenal, researchers are poised to make significant strides in their respective fields, pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and ushering in a new era of language-driven innovation. 10  

However, and to reiterate, I cannot overemphasize that ChatGPT has, at present, many disadvantages, including inconsistencies, bias, and plagiarism concerns, that must be addressed by the human author before the article is submitted for publication to a journal, as well as prior to publication, because the human author(s) is solely responsible for their research integrity and accurate reporting.

In conclusion, I have attempted to provide researchers with a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively leverage ChatGPT for research and publication purposes. It has also highlighted the problems and precautions that the human author(s) must take before publishing ChatGPT-generated content. By embracing this step-by-step guide, researchers can unlock the full potential of ChatGPT, driving scientific progress and shaping the future of research and publications.

Please use ChatGPT only if allowed by your institution, research lab, and the journal in question.

Please acknowledge ChatGPT within your manuscript/published paper wherever you are using it.

Please do not fabricate or plagiarize data. ChatGPT can be used only for summarizing texts, improving English writeups, and brainstorming ideas, and not for creating fabricated research raw data.

The author acknowledges that this article was partially generated by ChatGPT (powered by OpenAI’s language model, GPT-3; http://openai.com ). The editing was performed by the human author.

Disclosure. The author declare no conflicts or financial interest in any product or service mentioned in the manuscript, including grants, equipment, medications, employment, gifts, and honoraria.

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Using ChatGPT to assist with writing a research paper

Enhance your academic writing with AI! Explore how ChatGPT helps you draft your methods section, brainstorm counterargument ideas, and write a compelling conclusion.

Are you struggling with writing the methods section of your research paper? Learn how ChatGPT can make this task easier with these steps:

Step 1: Brainstorm

Start by creating a bullet-point list of key details about your research methodology. Don't worry about language or structure at this stage; focus on getting the information down.

Step 2: Ask ChatGPT to refine

Input your bullet points and ask ChatGPT to provide detailed descriptions. This approach saves time and effort and ensures a comprehensive description of your methodology.

Step 3: Review ChatGPT’s output Review the output from ChatGPT and put your own touch on it. Remember that you are collaborating with ChatGPT and using it as a partner and it may not give you the perfect output every time.

You can also use ChatGPT to develop counterarguments and the conclusion of your scientific paper.

Counterarguments

Input your arguments and ask ChatGPT to create counterarguments that strengthen your main argument and show different sides of the topic.

Start by drafting your conclusion, and then ask ChatGPT to rewrite your paragraph as a conclusion. Incorporate counterarguments in your conclusion to provide a well-rounded viewpoint and strengthen your argument.

Start the first chapter of our ChatGPT Essentials for Clinicians course for free

If you're not using ChatGPT and other language learning models (LLM) to enhance your abilities and streamline your work, you're missing out on the future of medicine! 

Let's dive into the basics of ChatGPT and master the art of effective prompting—the key to harnessing the potential of these AI tools. This will enable you to compose academic content, simplify information, organize data, and much more.

How to Use ChatGPT for Research and Essays

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For better or worse, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has become a big part of our lives. It’s become integral to gathering information, researching topics, and creating written works. And frankly, not using it might put you at a disadvantage academically.

However, this AI is not flawless; there is a method to use it to help with your essays and research. Using it the right way will help you avoid plagiarism issues or inaccurate information. Here, we’ll show you how to use ChatGPT to write an essay ethically, so it comes out as a quality, factual, and original piece.

1. Draw Your Outline Without ChatGPT

Assuming you already have an idea for your project, the first thing you should do before you hop on ChatGPT’s website is to prepare your thesis and outline without using AI. It’s a vital step to making sure the core of your essay actually comes from you.

If you use ChatGPT to prompt an outline for you, it could promote idea laziness, and you will find ChatGPT’s suggestions may have replaced the ones you could have produced on your own. So, get a piece of paper or a blank word processor page and create an outline for your essay.

Also, ChatGPT will avoid controversial topics—even in an outline. Therefore, you might find yourself with an outline missing vital pieces of historical sections if you rely on it. This bias is one of the major problems with OpenAI’s ChatGPT .

2. Prompt ChatGPT to Draw a Parallel Outline

Before you begin this section, if this is your first time using ChatGPT, you should read our guide on how to use ChatGPT . It will help you with creating an account and defining its capabilities. Once that’s out of the way, you can move on to the next step.

Now that you have an original outline, it doesn’t matter how basic it looks; you can use ChatGPT to create another outline. Craft a prompt with this template:

ChatGPT’s result is far more detailed than our outline. Here, you should adopt the parts of ChatGPT’s outline you would like to integrate into your own. Combine the best of the two and flesh out an outline that will guide you best as you write.

3. Create a ChatGPT Prompt for Each Section

Now that you have an outline with sections, you can begin to hack away at it section by section. Start with your introduction, where you will include your thesis statement. Ask ChatGPT to create multiple thesis statements on your idea, and choose the one that best encapsulates the major point you’re trying to communicate in your essay.

You can do something similar for all the other sections as well. Tell the AI to generate written pieces on your section topics. Don’t forget to add that it communicates the point in the tone you want. In most cases, essays should sound academic. Therefore, our prompt for each section looked like this:

Do not just copy and paste the information it generates; the next step is a vital second part of this methodology.

4. Confirm the Information With a Reputable Source

As you begin to write, you must check if the information you’re getting from ChatGPT is indeed correct. You must do this because ChatGPT occasionally hallucinates , coming up with its own facts and making up sources when you ask it to direct you to where it got its information. In some cases, it blatantly refuses to tell you at all where it got its data.

The free version of ChatGPT is not actively connected to the internet and cannot fetch information after September 2021. If you need this functionality, then it could be time to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus —especially if this is a tool you will be using heavily for work or school.

The bottom line is that you should use a reputable source (such as a book from an authority or an official website) to support every important statement you put down. You can also learn how to use Google to fact-check information .

5. Use ChatGPT for Examples and Breakdowns

It’s counterproductive to write about ideas that you don’t even understand yourself. When you reach a part of your essay that you don’t properly understand, you should go to ChatGPT and have it broken down for you.

That’s really the one thing you can count on ChatGPT to do in this process. It has good skill in crafting useful examples and explaining complicated ideas in a form you can easily understand. A popular way of phrasing a prompt to make ChatGPT explain something complicated is adding “explain like I’m five” to your prompt.

Here we used ChatGPT to break down hip and elbow dysplasia conditions in a way that is easier to understand. And it used analogies like jigsaw puzzles to paint a clearer image of what it might look like.

6. Write the Essay Yourself

As we’ve stated earlier, under no condition should you ask ChatGPT to write your whole essay for you. Not only is that lazy and deceitful, but it could also open you up to plagiarism and submitting incorrect information.

Ensure that every line in your essay is typed with your hands. Besides, if you’re writing an academic essay where you must cite sources, you will still need to corroborate all the points you’ve made with a corresponding authority. That means you’ll have to go and fact-check everything ChatGPT has written and find a corroborating source.

This could even take more time than just writing it yourself because the AI could have hallucinated some of its facts, leading you on a wild goose chase as you try to find a citation for something that doesn’t exist.

Lastly, ChatGPT doesn’t match the nuanced knowledge of a human professional in heavily specialized fields or journals that need up-to-date information. Reading a book or article by an expert, internalizing it, and writing it in your own words will give you far better results than relying on ChatGPT.

7. Polish the Style and Citation With ChatGPT

After writing, you can paste portions of your essay and ask ChatGPT to shorten, lengthen, or optimize the style. ChatGPT is good at mimicking popular styles, and you can use that to your advantage. If you want your writing to sound a little more professional, it can help rephrase it.

If you’re having trouble with citation styles and how to integrate them into your essay, you can present your essay to ChatGPT, give it your sources, and ask it to weld them together for you.

ChatGPT Is a Tool, Not a Solution

You can’t “ChatGPT” away academic or professional work; you must use it the same way you would use a tool. Take a calculator, for instance; it doesn’t replace the mathematician but improves the mathematician. You should use ChatGPT the same way a mathematician will use a calculator: for the boring, repetitive, rote work.

Let the ideas and story come from you and your experiences. And if you want to keep using ChatGPT as a student, make sure you know what you shouldn't do.

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This list of writing prompts covers a range of topics and tasks, including brainstorming research ideas, improving language and style, conducting literature reviews, and developing research plans.

ahmetbersoz/chatgpt-prompts-for-academic-writing

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✨ NEW UPDATE: Literature Review Generator

A Custom GPT for Literature Review Generator has been released. It efficiently parses PDF files of research publications, extracts key themes, and creates a literature review section for your academic publications.

TRY NOW: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-G3U8pZGwC-literature-review-generator

ChatGPT Prompts for Academic Writing

In this repository, this list of writing prompts covers a range of topics and tasks, including brainstorming research ideas, improving language and style, conducting literature reviews, and developing research plans. Whether you're a student, researcher, or academic professional, these prompts can help you hone your writing abilities and tackle your writing projects with confidence.

Use directly in: chat.openai.com

The list is regularly updated, so you can keep track of new prompts by following this repository.

TIPS: As there is a limit to the number of words that can be used in ChatGPT, you can input your text multiple times using the prompt "Read this [PARAPGRAPH]:" and then run your final prompt "Considering the above text...".

You can also use prompts splitter: chatgpt-prompt-splitter.jjdiaz.dev

BRAINSTORMING

Article sections, title/topic sentence, introduction, literature review.

NOTE: Be careful and double-check article existence. ChatGPT may generate fake references

Methodology

Experiments, future works, improving language, summarization, plan/presentation, working with documents (available only in gpt-4).

Upload a PDF file of a paper then:

Upload a PDF file of your paper then:

Upload PDF files of papers then:

Upload a figure image then:

Contributors 4

How to Use ChatGPT in Scientific Writing: Tips and Tricks

Updated December 11th, 2023

In this article, we want to adress a very current but controversial topic: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) language models such as ChatGPT in scientific writing . There are several ways you can utilize ChatGPT while you are doing research or while you are writing a scientific manuscript. In this article we will cover several possibilities on how to use ChatGPT in scientific writing. Please also read how to write a scientific paper before you ask ChatGPT anything about it.

Disclaimer : As an advanced AI model capable of understanding and generating natural language, ChatGPT can help you in multiple ways. But although the title of this article is “How to use ChatGPT in Scientific Writing”, be aware of the following:

Do not use ChatGPT to write actual text for your scientific manuscript!

ChatGPT may generate wrong and plagiarized content. Although you can check the output of ChatGPT with tools such as PlagiaShield , you should always be extra careful when copying any parts. Otherwise, you might get your research rejected instantly .

What to Consider Before ChatGPT Can Help You in Scientific Writing

First of all, it is important how you perceive ChatGPT .

It is by no means an automatic typewriter that generates text to be copied and pasted into your manuscript, presentation or other scientific documents. Rather, I suggest that you think of ChatGPT as an assistant that can help you with many things. However, it also has some limitations that you should be aware of before implementing ChatGPT into any of your workflows. In science, ChatGPT may only be of use, if the user (you) has substantial knowledge and experience in her/his field. You need to be able to differenciate meaninful from useless and more important right from wrong information.

It is tempting to give ChatGPT a prompt such as “write me an introduction for a scientific paper with the following title: ‘XYZ'”. I can only recommend everyone to try it – once! The result will make some sense and there might be some valuable information in it but it will most likely not suit your specific topic or thesis. The potential of ChatGPT lies in somewhat more sophisticated approaches.

The Top 6 Applications for ChatGPT in Scientific Writing

Let’s now dive into specific areas and explore how to use ChatGPT for scientific writing. Here we will briefly go through the 5 best ways to use ChatGPT while doing research or writing a scientific manuscript. Each point will be discussed in detail below with example prompts.

• Brainstorming and Finding Arguments
• Summarizing and Concentrating
• Paraphrasing and Simplifying
• Identifying Key Words and Key Points
• Creating Figures and Graphs
• Find Alternative Phrases and Synonyms

But now let us go into details so you can learn how ChatGPT can help you with your scientific research.

1. Brainstorming and Finding Arguments

ChatGPT is a great tool to help with generating ideas, finding arguments and general brainstorming. This can be helpful either before you start collecting information or after you already gathered some data in order to check if you maybe missed a relevant point.

How to Brainstorm in Scientific Writing Using ChatGPT

For example, you can ask ChatGPT: “ Give me treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma. Use bullet points .”

It will give you an output that will look something like this:

ChatGPT : Sure, here are the treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma in bullet points:

• Surgery (resection or liver transplant)
• Radiofrequency ablation (heat to destroy cancer cells)
• Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) (chemotherapy drugs injected directly into tumor)
• Systemic chemotherapy (drugs given through the bloodstream)
• Targeted therapy (drugs that target specific proteins or pathways involved in cancer growth)
• Immunotherapy (drugs that help the immune system to fight cancer)
• Radiation therapy (high-energy radiation used to kill cancer cells)
• Palliative care (treatment to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life)

At first sight, this list seems quite complete but depending on your level of expertise you might find that there are things missing (what about radioembolization, microwave ablation etc.). Maybe there will even be obvious mistakes. This is especially important in fields with rapid developments or novel innovations. As ChatGPT has no access to very current data, you need to be able to identify mistakes or gaps in its output .

However, lets say you already made your list and discussed treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma but somehow missed to include transarterial chemoembolization . In this case, ChatGPT will make you aware of this gap and will allow you to make your text or list more comprehensive. Again, please always be critical about the output and do additional scientiftific research by yourself to fact-check if you are not entirely sure about some things.

How to Use ChatGPT to Compare Things and Find Arguments in Scientific Writing

Given the huge data set that ChatGPT is trained on, it knows a lot about a lot of things. Therefore, you can use it to compare things and find arguments for different items.

For example, you could ask ChatGPT: “ Compare radiofrequency and microwave ablation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma “.

In this case, my test output looked like this:

ChatGPT : Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) are two minimally invasive procedures used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Both techniques aim to destroy cancerous tissue using thermal energy. However, there are some differences between the two methods:

• Mechanism of action: RFA uses high-frequency electrical currents to generate heat, while MWA uses electromagnetic waves to generate heat. MWA can achieve higher temperatures in a shorter amount of time.
• Tumor size: RFA is generally more effective for smaller tumors, typically those less than 3 cm in size. MWA may be better for larger tumors, as it can create a larger ablation zone.
• Procedural time: RFA requires a longer procedural time than MWA. MWA can complete treatment in a shorter time.
• Complications: Both RFA and MWA are generally safe and have few complications. However, there is a slightly higher risk of thermal injury to nearby tissues with MWA.
• Cost: MWA is generally more expensive than RFA.

In summary, RFA and MWA are both effective treatment options for HCC, but the choice between the two may depend on the tumor size and location, as well as the patient’s individual situation and the availability of the techniques in the treatment center.

Again, you need specific knowledge to evaluate this information with regard to the correctness. However, you will get some information of points, where you can get into more detail. For example, maybe you did not include potential differences in procedural time in your discussion. You now can research this point regarding real and authorized information and then add this to your discussion citing the respective references.

Helpful ressources to perform scientific literature research are PubMed and GoogleScholar (among many others).

2. Summarizing and Concentrating

ChatGPT is great in summarizing and modifying text. You can copy and paste any text into the search field and tell it to summarize it into one paragraph or even into single sentences. Or you can even tell it to summarize prior studies for you. Again, there are some things to know beforehand and you are asked to critically evaluate the output.

How to Use ChatGPT for Summarizing Scientific Texts

For example, you can give ChatGPT a scientific text as input. In this test case, I put the first section of the Wikipedia Article of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the text box and told it to summarize it using just 3 sentences. “ TEXT. Summarize this. Three sentences .”

Using this prompt, I received the following output:

ChatGPT : Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer and is linked to chronic liver injury and inflammation, often caused by chronic viral hepatitis infection or exposure to toxins. HCC has a poor prognosis and treatment varies depending on the specifics of the tumor and overall health of the patient. The incidence of HCC is highest in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa where hepatitis B infection is endemic, but it is also increasing in the United States and other developing countries due to an increase in hepatitis C virus infections.

Again, there might and will be mistakes but this can be a helpful tool to get a short and concise summary of a scientific text or study beyond what is written in the abstract . For example, you can also try to put the DOI/link and title of a study as input. Please be aware, that this will not work for every link, especially if the study is more recent.

Furthermore, make sure that there are no one-to-one copies. If you want to use the output, perform a plagiarism check using tools such as PlagiaShield .

How to Use ChatGPT to Concentrate Text in Scientific Writing

Almost everybody, that has published anything in the scientific world or even has presented on a scientific congress has faced ‘ word limits ‘. Maybe it is the abstract, that can only have 200 words – but your study is soo extensive. Or you want to submit your paper to a journal, that has a word limit of 2400 for the manuscript body – but your manuscript has 3500…

The approach is similar to the one above but now you need to tell ChatGPT that you want to reduce the text to a specific length or “by 10%” . Although this can work quite well, it will sometimes ignore your specifications and write the output significantly longer or shorter.

Furthermore, this approach can have some privacy issues . You can´t know, how the data you put into the text field is collected and processed. I strongly advise not to put sensitive or protected data into the chat box.

3. Paraphrasing and Simplifying

Although summarizing and concentrating text will also result in rephrasing sentences, you can use ChatGPT to adjust the complexity or tone of a text . Maybe you have written a scientific article but you now want to make a presentation for a broader audience. In this case, you might want to reduce scientific terms and implement an easier language.

Lets say you have the following definition for hepatocellular carcinoma:

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a neoplastic proliferative disorder of the liver characterized by the malignant transformation and aberrant growth of hepatocytes, which are the primary functional cells of the liver parenchyma, leading to the development of a tumor with the potential for local infiltration, regional metastasis, and systemic dissemination, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. This pathological condition is thought to arise from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors, including but not limited to chronic viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and exposure to hepatotoxic agents, which promote the accumulation of genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, and chromosomal instability within the hepatocyte population, ultimately leading to the dysregulation of multiple signaling pathways involved in cell growth, survival, and differentiation.

You can tell ChatGPT to take the text above as input and “ re-write it using shorter sentences and simpler language “. In this case, I got the following output:

ChatGPT : Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a type of liver cancer that happens when liver cells grow out of control and form a tumor. This can cause serious health problems and can even be deadly.

Several things can increase the risk of getting HCC, including chronic viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, and exposure to harmful chemicals. These things can damage the liver and make it more likely for cancer to develop.

This can be especially useful for scientific communications that need to be suitable for a broader audience. I cannot emphasize this enough, please read the output carefully and use it only for orientation and content input.

4. Identifying Key Words and Key Points

Another helpful application can be the identification of key words and key points for your study. Lets talk about how to use ChatGPT to identify key words and key points in scientific writing:

Many scientific jounals require you to provide key words in addition to the abstract. Furthermore, key points can be helpful to communicate your key findings and they might also be required by some journals .

Lets say, you wrote a manuscript for the following study: “ In-patient care trends in peripheral artery disease in the German healthcare system over the past decade “

You already wrote your manuscript but now you also need some key words and key points. In this case, the journal also requires your key words to be compatible with the MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) database.

Example on How to Use ChatGPT for Generating MeSH Key Words

You could paste your abstract to ChatGPT as input and ask something like this: “ I have this abstract: [paste abstract ]. Please give me 5 key words and 3 key points. Make the key words MeSH compatible. “

Here I got this output:

ChatGPT : Sure, here are five potential keywords that are compatible with the PubMed MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) database:

• Peripheral Arterial Disease
• Hospitalization/trends
• Comorbidity
• Revascularization
• Health Care Costs

Please note that these MeSH terms may have subheadings that can be used to refine the search further. Additionally, there may be other MeSH terms that are relevant to your study that are not included in this list.

Here are three potential key points for your study:

• Hospitalizations due to peripheral artery disease have increased over the past decade, with a notable rise in comorbid patients.
• The average cost per hospitalization has increased over time, reflecting the growing burden of peripheral artery disease on healthcare systems.
• Endovascular approaches, such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, are becoming more common for treating peripheral artery disease, particularly in smaller vessels below the knee.

As you are the expert of your study , you might find some key words more suitable and some key points not fitting. However, this approach can be a good start and facilitate your progress in scientific writing.

5. Creating Figures and Graphs

ChatGPT can be a good ressource and assistance during the generation of figures and graphs for your scientific study. In this paragraph we want to talk about how to use ChatGPT to create figures and graphs in scientific writing. Starting from getting ideas to the actual generation of figures, there are several steps where you can utilize ChatGPT.

How to Use ChatGPT to Get Ideas for Graphs in Scientific Writing

Let´s start with which graphs to use. If you have enough information for your study, you can ask ChatGPT for ideas for graphs. For example, given the information (abstract) of the prompt before, you could ask: “ What would be great graphs for the study mentioned above? “

ChatGPT: Based on the information provided in the abstract, here are a few graphs that could be useful for this study:

• Line graph showing trends in the number of hospitalizations for peripheral artery disease over time (2009-2018). This graph could highlight the increase in hospitalizations over the decade.
• Bar graph comparing the frequency of different comorbidities among patients hospitalized for peripheral artery disease. This graph could help identify the most common comorbidities associated with the disease.
• Stacked bar graph comparing the frequency of different revascularization procedures performed for peripheral artery disease, such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, bypasses, and endarterectomies. This graph could show the shift from surgical to endovascular approaches over the decade.
• Scatter plot showing the relationship between hospitalization costs and patient comorbidities or severity of peripheral artery disease. This graph could help identify factors that contribute to higher hospitalization costs.
• Box plot showing the distribution of the linear van Walraven score among patients hospitalized for peripheral artery disease over time. This graph could highlight the increasing severity of cases over the decade.

These are just a few ideas for potential graphs based on the information provided in the abstract. The most appropriate types of graphs may depend on the specific research questions and data available for the study.

You will probably already have some ideas that you want to illustrate in your paper, but using this prompt will give you some concrete suggestions in no time. Since we tend to use similar approaches (and similar numbers) in our studies, this can also be a good source of new ideas to help broaden your horizons.

How to Use ChatGPT to Create Graphs in Scientific Writing

If you have ever written a scientific paper, you have probably been at the point where you wanted to illustrate your data with a graph or plot . There are several options and software out there to create high quality graphs and this will not be a step-by-step guide on how to use different software. From Excel to SPSS to Python ( Matplotlib ) and R ( ggplot2 ), many tools can be used and will most likely produce acceptable graphs. However, both Matplotlib (Python) and gglplot2 (R) are very powerful and able to generate excellent and extremely versatile visualizations of your data . The downside is that you now have to learn how to program in those languages.

Now what does that have to do with ChatGPT you might ask? If you ever worked with Python or R, you will have come to the point where you wanted or needed to tweak your plot in some way. To do this, you read through guides, forum posts and stack overflow and ultimately found the line of code that did just what you wanted.

However, you may have never used Python or R before and feel overwhelmed by the thought of learning a programming language just to create some plots. Whether you are a beginner of this approach or you already found yourself struggeling while trying to adjust some of your figures, ChatGPT is here to help.

Example on How To Use ChatGPT to Create a Scientific Graph

As a novice, you can ask ChatGPT on how to generate a graph in any programming language . For example:

“ How to generate a scatter plot in R using ggplot2? “

In this case, you will get specific instructions with annotations and even readily written code to use to generate your high-quality figure.

Naturally, you need some knowledge on how to install and use R. However, with just basic knowledge you can kickstart the creation of your first high-end scientific graphs. And be aware that you can just ask for any modification .

Maybe you want to add a regression line to your plot: “ How to add a regression line to this graph? “

The detailed descriptions in the output of ChatGPT will help you to modify your code yourself. Before you know it, you will be able to create beautiful and expressive plots on your own , and you will use ChatGPT for more advanced questions.

Of course, you will need to learn how to import your data, install packages, manage data frames, and much more. But with the help of ChatGPT, the learning curve of any programming language can be significantly flattened enabling everybody to create lovely scientific graphs and plots. If you want to learn more about data visualization with generative AI, I can reccomend the following online course on data visualization with ChatGPT *:

6. Alternative Phrases and Synonyms

If you´re writing about a certain topic, you may find yourself using the same phrases over and over again. Not only does this create a somewhat monotonous aspect, but it also limits how your manuscript can be perceived. For example, if you´re always using the term “patients with oncologic diseases” in your paper that analyzes something about oncology patients, you are missing something out. Same thing is true if you´re writing a rebuttal letter and you start your comments to the reviewers always the same way.

Try asking ChatGPT for alternative phrases or synonyms. This will not only spice up your text, but also broaden your horizons for future scientific writing.

Just paste your overused phrase into ChatGPT and ask for (lets say 5) alternative phrases or synonyms. In no time you will have a good basis to use in your manuscript.

Happy writing!

Some links on this site are affiliate links (*). If you choose to buy a product using these links, I might get a commision for this purchase. For you, this does not change the price.

Board-certified radiologist, blogger, tech enthusiast, and clinician scientist working in Germany.

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Literature Search

How To Use ChatGPT Paper Summarize Tool In 3 Simple Steps

Learn how to use the ChatGPT summarize research paper tool in 3 simple steps for quick and effective insights.

Sep 19, 2024

Sifting through research papers can feel overwhelming, especially during a literature search. You just want to find the critical points without drowning in information overload. Wouldn't it be great if AI could do the heavy lifting for you? This guide explores how ChatGPT can be your sidekick in summarizing research papers, making the literature search faster and more efficient. Meet Otio's AI research and writing partner. It's designed to help you write and research more efficiently, using AI to streamline the literature search process.

Table Of Contents

Can chatgpt read a pdf and summarize it, benefits of using chatgpt for summarizing papers, 10 best chatgpt alternatives to summarize papers, limitations of chatgpt, supercharge your researching ability with otio — try otio for free today.

ChatGPT can read and summarize research papers, including those in PDF format. If you have a specific research paper you want summarized, just drag and drop the PDF into ChatGPT when using the Plus version. The process is intuitive and quick, making it easy to summarize dense academic material. This functionality is part of ChatGPT’s broader capability to interact with various document types. 

Embracing Versatility: More Than Just PDFs

ChatGPT isn’t limited to PDFs. It can also work with data files, such as spreadsheets and CSVs, to extract and interpret information. Text documents, like Word files or plain text, are another area where ChatGPT can help you quickly sense information. Even images can be analyzed or described, adding another layer of versatility to this tool.

Ideal Integration with Different Formats

No matter the format, ChatGPT can help you make sense of your data and content. ChatGPT ensures you can access and understand the information you need without hassle by supporting various document types. This seamless and efficient integration allows you to focus on the task.

Find Your Article, Paper, or Book to Summarize

Start by locating the specific research paper or article you want to summarize. Open it in a separate tab for easy reference. This will ensure you can easily access it as you work through the summarization process.

Open Your Web Browser and Log into ChatGPT

Head to your preferred web browser and navigate to chat.openai.com/chat. Sign in or create an account. This sets the stage for using ChatGPT to assist with your research.

Input Your Request

To get ChatGPT to summarize a piece , type in "TLDR:" followed by the work title in the chat box. You can also phrase your request as "Summarize [title]." Be sure not to paste a URL, as ChatGPT can't browse websites. For example, if you're researching twin sibling dynamics, ask ChatGPT: "Explain how twin relationships affect their marriages." This method will yield a general understanding but won't provide specific study details or statistics.

Break Down Complex Passages

If a section of your research is challenging to grasp, copy and paste it into ChatGPT. This approach helps rephrase what you’re reading, making it easier to understand and gives you a clearer view of the material.

Knowledge workers, researchers, and students today face information overload. Otio offers a streamlined solution that serves as an AI research and writing partner . Try Otio for free today and simplify your research workflow.

Related Reading

• Systematic Review Vs Meta Analysis • Impact Evaluation • How To Critique A Research Article • How To Synthesize Sources • Annotation Techniques • Skimming And Scanning • Types Of Literature Reviews • Literature Review Table • Literature Review Matrix • How To Increase Reading Speed And Comprehension • How To Read Research Papers • How To Summarize A Research Paper • Literature Gap

Get the Gist in Seconds

Have you ever read a research paper and wished for a quick summary? ChatGPT can condense the abstract or introduction into a single, digestible sentence. This is great for researchers who want to understand the main point without wading through pages of text. It's like getting the elevator pitch of a study without stepping into the elevator.

Spot the Gaps

Research is about pushing boundaries, but first, you have to know where the edge is. ChatGPT can summarize related research papers, helping you identify where the gaps lie. This is invaluable for finding new research opportunities. You can spot areas yet to be explored, setting the stage for your next big idea.

Tailor Your Message

Communicating research findings to different audiences can take time and effort. ChatGPT can generate summaries tailored to specific groups, whether you're talking to fellow experts or a general audience. This ensures your message is clear and engaging, no matter who's reading it.

Save Time and Effort

Summarizing a research paper can be tedious, but ChatGPT can automate the process, saving you significant time and effort. This frees you up to focus on more critical aspects of your research, like analysis and interpretation. You can spend less time summarizing and more time doing what you love.

1. Otio: Your AI Companion for Research and Writing

Description  

Otio is a unified AI workspace designed to help researchers manage content overload. Instead of juggling multiple apps, Otio lets you gather data from bookmarks, tweets, and videos, providing detailed AI-generated notes. You can chat with individual links or entire knowledge bases, much like using ChatGPT. It’s a tool to take you from the reading list to the first draft quickly.

2. SciSpace: Simplifying Complex Research Papers

SciSpace is tailored for academic papers. It breaks down complex methods and results into understandable summaries. It’s designed to navigate different sections and integrates well with citations.

Pros  

Focuses specifically on research papers.  

Provides detailed breakdowns and a user-friendly interface.

Cons  

Limited to academic papers.  

Requires a paid subscription for full features.

3. Quillbot: Paraphrase and Polish Your Content

Quillbot is a paraphrasing tool for cleaning up text in multiple languages. It includes grammar and plagiarism checkers, ensuring your content is unique and polished.

Built-in grammar and plagiarism checkers.  

Offers a Synonym Slider for varied wording.

Character limits on free and paid versions.  

I may miss some grammatical errors.

4. Paper Digest: Quick Insights at a Glance

Paper Digest uses AI to summarize research papers into concise formats, offering quick insights into the main points. It’s a time-saver for those needing rapid understanding.

Provides quick, discipline-spanning summaries.  

Free access with limited features.

Lacks deep insights into methodologies.  

Accuracy can vary with complex papers.

5. Writesonic: AI Writing with a Creative Edge

Writesonic is an AI writing tool that helps create high-quality content across different platforms. It offers more than 100 features, including text-to-art capabilities.

Built on GPT-4, incorporating current events.  

Integrates with platforms like LinkedIn and YouTube.

The free version lacks multi-user support.  

Credit limits present challenges for long-form content.

6. Scholarcy: Summarize and Export with Ease

Scholarcy automatically summarizes research papers, providing highlights and extracting references. It’s ideal for multi-discipline research.

Summarizes sections like abstracts and results.  

Exports summaries into various formats.

You may need to include nuanced details.  

Paid plans are needed for exporting.

7. Resoomer: Simple Summaries for Long Texts

Resoomer is a web-based tool that creates concise summaries of long texts, articles, and research papers.

User-friendly interface.  

Available in multiple languages.

It needs to be optimized for academic papers.  

Lacks in-depth insights.

8. TLDR This: Ultra-Short Summaries for Quick Reads

TLDR This creates short summaries or TLDRs (Too Long, Didn’t Read) of articles and research papers.

Easy to integrate into workflows.  

Supports URLs and PDFs.

Needs more detail for in-depth research.  

She needs to be more focused on academic papers.

9. SMMRY: Fast and Free Text Summarization

SMMRY summarizes documents and web pages, including research papers, into shorter versions. It’s fast and free to use.

Offers various summary length options.  

Suitable for academic and non-academic texts.

Primary interface with limited customization.  

It may need to capture technical language accurately.

10. SummarizeBot: AI-Powered Summaries Across Platforms

SummarizeBot uses AI and blockchain technology to summarize research papers and articles. It supports multiple file formats.

Processes various file types.  

Provides well-structured summaries.

Requires registration for full features.  

It needs to be more consistently optimized for detailed academic analysis.

• Literature Search Template • ChatGPT Prompts For Research • How To Find Gaps In Research • Research Journal Example • How To Find Limitations Of A Study • How To Do A Literature Search • Research Concept Map • Meta-Analysis Methods • How To Identify Bias In A Source • Search Strategies For Research • Literature Search Template • How To Read A Research Paper Quickly • How to summarize a research article • How To Evaluate An Article • ChatGPT Summarize Paper • How To Take Notes For A Research Paper

ChatGPT’s Common Sense Gap

ChatGPT can churn out lifelike responses , but it doesn’t have the common sense of a human. It lacks the background knowledge we bring to conversations. As a result, ChatGPT can sometimes produce answers that don’t make sense or are just plain wrong. Have you ever asked ChatGPT a question and got a bizarre answer? This is why.

The Emotional Intelligence Dilemma

ChatGPT can mimic empathy, but it doesn’t truly understand emotions. It can't pick up on subtle emotional cues or handle complex emotional situations. Need support after a bad day? ChatGPT might not give you the comfort a real person would.

Context Confusion: When Sarcasm and Humor Fall Flat

ChatGPT often struggles with context , especially with sarcasm and humor. While it’s excellent at language processing, it can miss the subtle nuances of communication. If you throw sarcasm or a joke, don’t be surprised if ChatGPT doesn’t get it.

Long-Form Content Limitations

ChatGPT isn’t a master of long-form, structured content yet. It can create coherent sentences, but ask it to write a lengthy piece with a clear narrative, and it might falter. For now, it’s better at generating short content like summaries or bullet points.

Bias in the Training Data

ChatGPT learns from large datasets, which might contain biases. This means the AI can sometimes generate unintentionally biased or prejudiced responses. It’s a reminder that AI reflects the data it’s trained on.

Knowledge Limitations

ChatGPT has access to a lot of information, but it doesn’t know everything. It might not have answers to specific or niche topics or be aware of recent developments in particular fields. It’s like a well-read but sometimes outdated book.

Accuracy and Grammatical Challenges

ChatGPT doesn’t always handle typos, grammatical errors, or misspellings well. It can also produce technically correct responses but lack context or relevance. This is especially tricky when dealing with complex information where accuracy is key.

The Need for Fine-Tuning

You should fine-tune ChatGPT for particular tasks. This involves training the model in a specific data set to optimize performance. It can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, but it’s sometimes necessary to get the desired results.

Researchers today face an avalanche of content. The sheer volume of information can feel paralyzing. You need efficient tools to sort through this chaos. Otio offers a streamlined solution . It collects and organizes diverse data sources. You get everything from bookmarks and tweets to lengthy books and videos. With Otio, you can focus on what matters most.

Say Goodbye to Fragmented Workflows

Many rely on a patchwork of apps to manage their research. This approach is clunky and inefficient. Otio changes that . It consolidates your tools into a single platform. You can save time and increase productivity. Consider having all your resources in one place, ready for action.

AI-Powered Extraction for Key Insights

Sifting through mountains of data is exhausting. Otio’s AI-generated notes simplify the process. You get detailed insights without lifting a finger. The platform also offers a source-grounded Q&A chat. You can interact with your research like you would with ChatGPT. This feature saves you time and energy.

From Reading List to First Draft—Fast

Writing that first draft can feel daunting. Otio’s AI-assisted writing tools make it easier. You can draft outputs using your collected sources. This feature helps you move from research to writing quickly. You’ll spend less time staring at a blank page.

Otio: Your Partner in Research and Writing

Otio is more than just a tool. It’s a partner in your research and writing journey. The platform helps you write research papers and essays faster. You can trust Otio to support you every step of the way. Try Otio for free today and experience the difference.

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Sep 18, 2024

Sep 17, 2024

How To Summarize Research Paper ChatGPT Method In 6 Simple Steps

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How-To Geek

How to write a great essay with chatgpt without cheating.

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Key Takeaways

• AI can assist with outlining, research, and editing, but can't write the essay for you.
• Seek clarification on AI usage from professors to ensure compliance with honor codes.
• Utilize AI like ChatGPT and Perplexity for research and outline suggestions, but write the essay yourself.

Like any tool, AI can be a big help to a writer. It can come up with an effective outline, suggest sources or a research topic, and help edit. However, it can't write the essay for you.

Not only would that be a violation of many honor codes and ethical guidelines, but it would also result in a terrible essay! Essays written by ChatGPT are often riddled with factual inaccuracies, comical misunderstandings, and a thesis with enough twists and turns to resemble a preschooler's self-portrait.

When In Doubt, Seek Help Out

If a strict Honor Code is in play, it might be wise to shoot a quick email to the professor or teacher in charge. It never hurts to confirm that AI tools are acceptable as long as all the writing is human. Schools, colleges, and universities are all grappling with how to deal with the existence of AI writing tools, and there's probably some form of official policy you can access, or at the very least individual professors and teachers will have their own policies in place.

Find Your Favorite AI

ChatGPT is a great place to start. It is a good all-purpose AI, and there are also custom GPTs available that might suit your needs as well. Or, you could use different AI for each stage of the essay writing process. I think Perplexity AI is the best for research. It will provide sources and you can ask follow-up questions. You also have the option of running a local AI, if your computer has the specs for it .

No matter where you start, always fact-check your AI. Available AI technology is getting better every day, but it still makes mistakes. Frequently. Some mistakes are obvious, and others are not. Using AI to gather research is a quick and efficient way to get started, but you still may have to crack open a book or two. AI works best as a tool to support the human element. Wherever possible, ask the LLM to provide sources for its claims, and the follow up on those sources to ensure they exist and actually say what the LLM states.

Write an Effective Prompt

A good prompt is detailed and specific. An extreme example would be:

Provide some good primary sources from US history,"

"List the natural progression of American Colonial ideals using examples from the documents of the 1st Continental Congress, Thomas Paine's Common Sense, and the Declaration of Independence.

AI is a tool that gives only as good as it gets. The first prompt will result in a mishmash of unrelated sources. The second will produce an excellent starting point for an essay because the human has done the complex analytical thinking. The AI can then do what it does best.

Have Your LLM Suggest an Outline

Entering the above prompt into Perplexity AI gave a pretty good answer. After a quick fact check, the next step is to have your LLM suggest an outline. To do this, you'll need to come up with a thesis on your own. If you're struggling, ask the AI to suggest a few based on those sources. In my opinion, thesis writing is not a strength of AI, but its suggestions might point you in the right direction.

To get an outline from Perplexity, I prompted:

"Using those 3 sources, compose an outline for a 600-word essay supporting the assertion that the First Continental Congress defined what actions needed to be taken, Paine's work was a call to action, and the Declaration of Independence was the action."

Another option would be to copy/paste the relevant portion from Perplexity AI into ChatGPT and enter the same prompt, this time referencing the "above information."

Write the Essay Yourself!

Armed with the sources, topic, thesis, and outline, be sure to write the actual content yourself! This is the most important step to avoid cheating. You're using the groundwork done by the LLM and verified by you as a foundation for the essay. Now it's up to you to write a coherent piece in your own voice, making arguments you've come up with yourself. Remember, you aren't just being graded on your ability to write, but also on your ability to think, and that's what you must demonstrate in your essay.

Be Careful with AI Editors

Use AI to help make grammar and spelling corrections, or ask it to make content suggestions, but don't allow it to re-write your content . AI tends to write every sentence in active voice which is usually considered superior to passive voice. However, most humans don't write exclusively in active voice. Therefore, AI detectors take this into account when making their determinations.

This is just one example of how seemingly subtle changes suggested by AI can increase the risk of your work getting identified as AI-written . Furthermore, it is still up for debate how much AI can change a sentence before it becomes AI-written. Grammarly AI underlines grammar or spelling errors in red, and other issues in other colors. So, in Grammarly, I only fix those red errors. That said, asking ChatGPT or an AI editor for a few suggestions on how to improve your essay might be a safe way to check your work.

A Word on AI Detectors

The best way to make sure your work will pass an AI detector is to pre-emptively put your work into an AI detector to see if it passes. Generally speaking, AI detectors do not work . Whether or not a writer uses AI, theres a chance they will judged by an AI detector, I'd suggest they make sure their work will pass as human. Human-written work can easily get labeled as AI-written, and writers suffer the consequences. If an AI detector claims your original work is AI-written, let it identify which passages are "AI written," and re-write them until it is satisfied.

Finally, let me say it one more time: be sure to write all the content yourself, and get clarity on AI policies before using AI tools.

• Cutting Edge
• AI (Artificial Intelligence)
• AI & Machine Learning

September 12, 2024

Introducing OpenAI o1-preview

A new series of reasoning models for solving hard problems. Available now.

Update on September 17, 2024: Rate limits are now 50 queries per week for o1-preview and 50 queries per day for o1-mini.

We've developed a new series of AI models designed to spend more time thinking before they respond. They can reason through complex tasks and solve harder problems than previous models in science, coding, and math. Today, we are releasing the first of this series in ChatGPT and our API. This is a preview and we expect regular updates and improvements. Alongside this release, we’re also including evaluations for the next update, currently in development.

How it works

We trained these models to spend more time thinking through problems before they respond, much like a person would. Through training, they learn to refine their thinking process, try different strategies, and recognize their mistakes. 

In our tests, the next model update performs similarly to PhD students on challenging benchmark tasks in physics, chemistry, and biology. We also found that it excels in math and coding. In a qualifying exam for the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO), GPT-4o correctly solved only 13% of problems, while the reasoning model scored 83%. Their coding abilities were evaluated in contests and reached the 89th percentile in Codeforces competitions. You can read more about this in our technical research post .

As an early model, it doesn't yet have many of the features that make ChatGPT useful, like browsing the web for information and uploading files and images. For many common cases GPT-4o will be more capable in the near term.

But for complex reasoning tasks this is a significant advancement and represents a new level of AI capability. Given this, we are resetting the counter back to 1 and naming this series OpenAI o1.

As part of developing these new models, we have come up with a new safety training approach that harnesses their reasoning capabilities to make them adhere to safety and alignment guidelines. By being able to reason about our safety rules in context, it can apply them more effectively. 

One way we measure safety is by testing how well our model continues to follow its safety rules if a user tries to bypass them (known as "jailbreaking"). On one of our hardest jailbreaking tests, GPT-4o scored 22 (on a scale of 0-100) while our o1-preview model scored 84. You can read more about this in the system card and our research post .

To match the new capabilities of these models, we’ve bolstered our safety work, internal governance, and federal government collaboration. This includes rigorous testing and evaluations using our Preparedness Framework (opens in a new window) , best-in-class red teaming, and board-level review processes, including by our Safety & Security Committee. To advance our commitment to AI safety, we recently formalized agreements with the U.S. and U.K. AI Safety Institutes. We've begun operationalizing these agreements, including granting the institutes early access to a research version of this model. This was an important first step in our partnership, helping to establish a process for research, evaluation, and testing of future models prior to and following their public release.

Whom it’s for

These enhanced reasoning capabilities may be particularly useful if you’re tackling complex problems in science, coding, math, and similar fields. For example, o1 can be used by healthcare researchers to annotate cell sequencing data, by physicists to generate complicated mathematical formulas needed for quantum optics, and by developers in all fields to build and execute multi-step workflows. 

OpenAI o1-mini

The o1 series excels at accurately generating and debugging complex code. To offer a more efficient solution for developers, we’re also releasing OpenAI o1-mini , a faster, cheaper reasoning model that is particularly effective at coding. As a smaller model, o1-mini is 80% cheaper than o1-preview, making it a powerful, cost-effective model for applications that require reasoning but not broad world knowledge. 

How to use OpenAI o1

ChatGPT Plus and Team users will be able to access o1 models in ChatGPT starting today. Both o1-preview and o1-mini can be selected manually in the model picker, and at launch, weekly rate limits will be 30 messages for o1-preview and 50 for o1-mini. We are working to increase those rates and enable ChatGPT to automatically choose the right model for a given prompt.

ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu users will get access to both models beginning next week.  Developers who qualify for API usage tier 5 (opens in a new window) can start prototyping with both models in the API today with a rate limit of 20 RPM. We’re working to increase these limits after additional testing. The API for these models currently doesn't include function calling, streaming, support for system messages, and other features. To get started, check out the API documentation (opens in a new window) .

We also are planning to bring o1-mini access to all ChatGPT Free users . 

What’s next

This is an early preview of these reasoning models in ChatGPT and the API. In addition to model updates, we expect to add browsing, file and image uploading, and other features to make them more useful to everyone. 

We also plan to continue developing and releasing models in our GPT series, in addition to the new OpenAI o1 series. 

• Try it in ChatGPT Plus (opens in a new window)
• Try it in the API (opens in a new window)

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• How to Write a Paper with ChatGPT | Tips & Examples

How to Write a Paper with ChatGPT | Tips & Examples

Published on 17 August 2023 by Koen Driessen .

A good research paper demonstrates your academic writing skills and knowledge of your chosen topic.

Your research paper should be based on in-depth independent research. However, generative AI tools like ChatGPT can be effectively used throughout the research process to:

• Brainstorm research questions
• Develop a methodology
• Create an outline
• Find sources
• Summarise and paraphrase text
• Provide feedback

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Table of contents

Brainstorming research questions, developing a methodology, creating an outline, finding sources, summarising or paraphrasing text, receiving feedback, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions.

You can use ChatGPT to help formulate research questions , brainstorm potential thesis statements , or narrow down a broad subject area to a specific topic that interests you.

However, make sure that the outputs make sense and meet the requirements of your assignment. You can adapt these outputs manually, or use further prompts to ensure they meet your needs. For more information, see our tips for creating effective ChatGPT prompts .

• Generate three possible research questions for a research paper on the following topic: “The role of virtual reality in enhancing training and skill development in various industries.”
• “What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods across different industries?”
• “How does the level of immersion in virtual reality training impact knowledge retention and skill transfer in fields such as medicine, aviation, and manufacturing?”
• “What are the key factors that influence the successful integration and adoption of virtual reality technology for training purposes in diverse industries, and what challenges hinder its widespread implementation?”

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Your paper should clearly indicate the data collection and analysis methods you used in your research.

You can use ChatGPT to help decide what kind of research you will conduct (e.g., qualitative or quantitative ), how you will analyse the data, and how you will mitigate potential research bias .

Bear in mind that you should be able to rationalize your chosen methodology . For example, you should ensure that it is either a standard methodology in the field or can be justified.

• Suggest three quantitative research methods appropriate to the following question: “What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods in the field of healthcare?”
• Experimental Study: Conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) where healthcare professionals are randomly assigned to either a virtual reality-based training group or a traditional training group. Both groups would receive training in specific healthcare tasks, and their cognitive and skill development outcomes would be measured and compared. Performance metrics, such as accuracy, speed, and efficiency, could be quantitatively assessed to determine the benefits of virtual reality-based training over traditional methods.
• Survey Research: Design a comprehensive survey targeting healthcare professionals who have undergone both virtual reality-based training and traditional training. The survey could include Likert-scale questions and structured response options to gauge their perceived cognitive and skill development benefits from each training method. Additionally, open-ended questions could be included to gather qualitative insights on specific strengths and weaknesses of each training approach.
• Task Performance Analysis: Implement a task-based assessment that simulates real-life healthcare scenarios, where participants are evaluated on their ability to handle critical situations. Participants would go through both virtual reality-based training and traditional training before being assessed in the simulated scenarios. Their performance in the assessment could be objectively measured using predefined criteria, allowing for a quantitative comparison of skill development between the two training methods.

A clear outline can help structure your paper, organise your arguments effectively, and make your research more efficient.

You can use generative AI tools like ChatGPT to formulate a potential outline to help guide your research. You can be as specific as you like, giving an overview of your research objectives , main arguments, and any evidence you intend to include in your paper.

However, ChatGPT outputs sometimes contain factual inaccuracies. It’s important to check the headings and subheadings suggested in the output and adapt them to meet your needs.

• Create an outline for an academic research paper with the following research question:“What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods in the field of healthcare?” The paper will be about 10 pages long.

B. Existing studies on cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality training

C. Comparison of virtual reality-based training with traditional training methods

D. Gaps in the literature and research limitations

III. Theoretical Framework

A. Theoretical basis for cognitive and skill development in training

B. Application of cognitive theories to virtual reality-based training

C. The role of immersive learning environments in skill acquisition

D. Conceptual framework for the study

IV. Research Methodology

A. Research design and approach (e.g., quasi-experimental, pre-post intervention)

B. Selection of participants and sample size calculation

C. Description of the virtual reality-based training and traditional training programs

D. Instruments and measures for assessing cognitive and skill development

E. Data collection procedures and ethical considerations

V. Data Analysis

A. Overview of statistical methods used for data analysis

B. Treatment of data and data cleaning

C. Quantitative analysis of cognitive and skill development outcomes

D. Presentation of findings with charts and tables

VI. Results

A. Presentation of the results of the cognitive and skill development assessments

B. Comparison of outcomes between virtual reality-based training and traditional training

C. Statistical significance and effect size analysis

D. Interpretation of the results and implications

VII. Discussion

A. Interpretation of findings in the context of the research question

B. Comparison of results with existing literature

C. Explanation of how virtual reality-based training impacts cognitive processes and skill development

D. Limitations of the study and areas for future research

VIII. Practical Implications

A. Practical applications of virtual reality-based training in healthcare settings

B. Recommendations for integrating virtual reality training in healthcare education

C. Benefits of virtual reality for continuous professional development in healthcare

IX. Conclusion

A. Summary of key findings

B. Reiteration of the research question and hypothesis

C. Contributions of the study to the field of healthcare training

D. Concluding remarks

X. References

You can use ChatGPT to help find sources relevant to your research. However, it’s important to be aware of the limitations of ChatGPT (for example, it occasionally cites nonexistent sources).

Instead of asking ChatGPT for specific source recommendations, try asking it for recommendations on the types of sources relevant to your research topic. You can also use it to generate a list of relevant keywords to use in your literature search.

• What types of sources could I use to write a research paper on the following research question? “What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods in the field of healthcare?”
• Academic Journals: Peer-reviewed journals are valuable sources of scholarly research. Look for articles in medical education, cognitive psychology, virtual reality applications in healthcare, and technology-enhanced learning.
• Research Studies: Seek out published research studies that specifically investigate the impact of virtual reality-based training on cognitive and skill development in healthcare professionals.
• Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: These studies provide comprehensive overviews of existing research on a specific topic, making them a valuable source for summarizing and analyzing the overall evidence.
• Books and Book Chapters: Academic books and book chapters authored by experts in the fields of medical education, virtual reality, cognitive science, or instructional design can provide in-depth insights and theoretical foundations.
• Conference Proceedings: Proceedings from relevant conferences and symposiums may present the latest findings and advancements in virtual reality-based training and healthcare education.
• Educational Institution Websites: Universities and medical schools often publish research papers, case studies, and whitepapers related to medical education and virtual reality training.
• Industry Reports: Reports and whitepapers from healthcare organizations or technology companies exploring the benefits of virtual reality-based training in the healthcare sector.
• Government and Non-profit Organisations: Look for reports and publications from government agencies and non-profit organisations that focus on medical education and healthcare training.
• Online Databases: Utilize academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect to search for peer-reviewed research articles and conference papers.
• Expert Interviews: If possible, conduct interviews with experts in medical education, cognitive science, and virtual reality to gain valuable insights and perspectives.
• Surveys and Polls: Refer to reputable surveys and polls related to virtual reality-based training in the healthcare industry for additional statistical data.

You can use ChatGPT to paraphrase or summarise text. This can help you to condense sources to their most important points and explore new ways of expressing your ideas.

Alternatively you can use the more specialised tools featured on Scribbr’s AI writing resources page, which are designed specifically for these purposes and will give a smoother user experience.

• Provide a short summary of the following text:“One of the most profound applications of VR in healthcare is its use in surgical training. Traditionally, surgical training has relied on a combination of didactic lectures, observation of procedures, and hands-on experience in the operating room. However, these methods may not provide the ideal environment for novices to develop the necessary dexterity and spatial understanding essential for complex surgeries. VR overcomes these limitations by offering immersive, true-to-life simulations that allow surgeons to navigate through intricate anatomical structures, practice incisions, and learn to manage unexpected challenges that may arise during surgeries. This hands-on experience in a risk-free environment not only enhances technical skills but also builds confidence and reduces the learning curve for new surgical techniques.”
• Virtual Reality (VR) has a profound impact on healthcare, particularly in surgical training, as it provides immersive simulations that help surgeons develop dexterity, spatial understanding, and confidence for complex surgeries in a risk-free environment, ultimately enhancing their technical skills and reducing the learning curve.

When you’ve finished writing your research paper, you can use ChatGPT to receive feedback. You can be as specific as you like, selecting particular aspects the output should focus on (e.g., tone, clarity of structure, appropriateness of evidence to support your arguments).

You can also use ChatGPT to check grammar, spelling, and punctuation. However, it’s not designed for this purpose and occasionally misses errors. We recommend using a more specialised tool like Scribbr’s free grammar checker . Or, for more comprehensive feedback, Scribbr’s proofreading and editing service .

• Feedback the above text with regard to appropriateness of evidence and coherence of structure.
• The research paper demonstrates a well-structured and coherent presentation of the cognitive and skill development benefits of VR-based surgical training. The introduction effectively sets the context and rationale, while the literature review incorporates relevant historical and empirical evidence. The theoretical framework strengthens the foundation for the analysis.The methodology section could provide more details on the research design and study selection criteria. However, the sections on cognitive and skill development benefits present compelling evidence, supported by appropriate sub-sections.The exploration of improved patient outcomes lacks concrete examples but effectively outlines potential benefits. The section on challenges and future directions raises relevant points, but suggestions for solutions could enhance practicality.Overall, the paper combines theoretical, empirical, and practical evidence, offering a well-rounded approach. It establishes the significance of VR-based surgical training and concludes with a concise summary of key findings.

If you want more tips on using AI tools , understanding plagiarism , and citing sources , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations, examples, and formats.

• Citing ChatGPT
• Best grammar checker
• Best paraphrasing tool
• ChatGPT in your studies
• Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
• Types of plagiarism
• Self-plagiarism
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Academic integrity
• Best plagiarism checker

Citing sources

• Citation styles
• In-text citation
• Citation examples
• Annotated bibliography

Yes, you can use ChatGPT to summarise text . This can help you understand complex information more easily, summarise the central argument of your own paper, or clarify your research question.

You can also use Scribbr’s free text summariser , which is designed specifically for this purpose.

Yes, you can use ChatGPT to paraphrase text to help you express your ideas more clearly, explore different ways of phrasing your arguments, and avoid repetition.

However, it’s not specifically designed for this purpose. We recommend using a specialised tool like Scribbr’s free paraphrasing tool , which will provide a smoother user experience.

No, having ChatGPT write your college essay can negatively impact your application in numerous ways. ChatGPT outputs are unoriginal and lack personal insight.

Furthermore, Passing off AI-generated text as your own work is considered academically dishonest . AI detectors may be used to detect this offense, and it’s highly unlikely that any university will accept you if you are caught submitting an AI-generated admission essay.

However, you can use ChatGPT to help write your college essay during the preparation and revision stages (e.g., for brainstorming ideas and generating feedback).

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

Driessen, K. (2023, August 17). How to Write a Paper with ChatGPT | Tips & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 18 September 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/using-ai-tools/chatgpt-paper/

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• Knowledge Base
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• How to Write an Introduction Using ChatGPT | Tips & Examples

How to Write an Introduction Using ChatGPT | Tips & Examples

Published on July 17, 2023 by Koen Driessen . Revised on September 11, 2023.

A good introduction is essential to any essay or dissertation. It sets up your argument and clearly indicates the scope and content of your writing.

Your introduction should be an authentic representation of your own ideas and research. However, AI tools like ChatGPT can be effectively used during the writing process to:

• Develop an introduction outline
• Summarize text
• Paraphrase text
• Provide feedback

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Table of contents

Developing an introduction outline, summarizing your arguments, paraphrasing text, generating feedback, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions.

While the introduction naturally comes at the beginning of your paper, it’s often one of the last parts you write. Writing your introduction last allows you to clearly indicate the most important aspects of your research to your reader in a logical order.

You can use ChatGPT to brainstorm potential outlines for your introduction. To do this, include a brief overview of all relevant aspects of your paper, including your research question , methodology , central arguments, and essay type (e.g., argumentative , expository ). For a longer essay or dissertation , you might also mention section or chapter titles.

Rearrange or edit the output so that it accurately reflects the body of your essay .

Example: Using ChatGPT to develop an outline

• Develop an outline for an essay introduction. The essay is a 2,000 word argumentative essay on the impact of children’s cartoons on consumer behavior. The research uses both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Start with a thought-provoking statement, anecdote, or statistic related to the influence of children’s cartoons on consumer behavior.
• Introduce the topic of children’s cartoons and their popularity among young audiences.
• Highlight the prevalence of media consumption among children and the significant role that cartoons play in their lives.
• Discuss the growing influence of marketing and advertising targeted at children.
• Clearly state your main argument about the impact of children’s cartoons on consumer behavior.
• Example: “This essay argues that children’s cartoons have a substantial influence on consumer behavior, shaping children’s preferences, purchase decisions, and brand loyalty. This assertion is supported by a combination of qualitative and quantitative data.”
• Briefly describe the research conducted and the use of both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Explain the purpose of the research in examining the relationship between children’s cartoons and consumer behavior.
• Mention the sample size, research methods employed, and the sources of data (e.g., surveys, interviews, content analysis).
• Discuss the significance of understanding the impact of children’s cartoons on consumer behavior.
• Highlight the potential implications for marketers, parents, and society as a whole.
• Emphasize the need for critical examination of the messages conveyed through children’s cartoons.
• Provide a brief overview of the main points or sections that will be covered in the essay.
• Examination of the persuasive techniques employed in children’s cartoons.
• Analysis of qualitative data to understand the effects of cartoons on children’s preferences and behaviors.
• Presentation of quantitative data on the relationship between exposure to cartoons and consumer behavior.
• Discussion of the ethical considerations surrounding marketing to children.
• Conclusion on the overall impact of children’s cartoons on consumer behavior.
• Summarize how the upcoming sections will provide evidence and analysis to support your argument.
• Example: “Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative data, this essay will delve into the persuasive techniques used in children’s cartoons, examine the effects of cartoons on children’s preferences and behaviors, present quantitative evidence of the relationship between exposure to cartoons and consumer behavior, discuss the ethical concerns, and ultimately draw conclusions about the influence of children’s cartoons on consumer behavior.”

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At the end of your introduction, you may give a brief overview of specific sections of your paper.

You can use ChatGPT to summarize text and condense your writing to its most important ideas. To do this, copy and paste sections of your essay into ChatGPT and prompt it to summarize the text.

However, we don’t recommend passing off AI-generated outputs as your own work. This is considered academically dishonest and may be detected using AI detectors . Instead, use ChatGPT outputs as a source of inspiration to help you clearly indicate your key objectives and findings in your own words.

Alternatively, you can use a specialized tool like Scribbr’s free text summarizer , which offers a smoother user experience.

Example: Using ChatGPT to summarize text

• Provide a one-line summary of the following paragraph: “Exposure to cartoons exerts a discernible impact on a child’s preferences, primarily through the establishment of robust associations between animated characters, branded products, and positive emotional experiences. Through repeated exposure, children develop an attachment to specific brands that influences their future buying choices. Furthermore, recent studies have established a correlation between the amount of time spent watching cartoons and children’s consumer behavior, including their demands for advertised products and their influence on family purchasing decisions.”
• Repeated exposure to cartoons influences children’s preferences, brand attachments, consumer behavior, and purchasing decisions.

When writing your introduction, you may have difficulty finding fresh ways to describe the content of your essay. You can use ChatGPT as a paraphrasing tool to rephrase text in clear language. This can help you to communicate your ideas more effectively, avoid repetition, and maintain a consistent tone.

You can also use Scribbr’s free paraphrasing tool , which is designed specifically for this purpose.

Example: Using ChatGPT to paraphrase text

• Paraphrase the following sentence: “This raises ethical concerns regarding the potential exploitation of young minds for commercial gain, highlighting the need for responsible content creation and parental guidance to mitigate the impact of children’s cartoons on consumer behavior.”
• The potential exploitation of young minds for commercial gain gives rise to ethical concerns, emphasizing the importance of responsible content creation and parental guidance to reduce the influence of children’s cartoons on consumer behavior.

Once you’ve finished writing your introduction, you can use ChatGPT to generate feedback. Paste your introduction into the tool and prompt it to provide feedback on specific aspects of your writing, such as tone, clarity, or structure.

You can also use ChatGPT to check grammar and punctuation mistakes. However, it’s not specifically designed for this purpose and may fail to detect some errors. We recommend using a more specialized tool like Scribbr’s free grammar checker . Or, for more comprehensive feedback, try Scribbr’s proofreading and editing service .

Example: Using ChatGPT to get feedback

• Provide feedback on the above text with regard to tone of voice and clarity of structure.

Furthermore, the last paragraph could be revised to provide a more concise summary of the main points that will be addressed in the essay. This would help to give the reader a clearer roadmap of what to expect in the subsequent sections.

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , fallacies , and research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• ChatGPT vs human editor
• ChatGPT citations
• Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
• Using ChatGPT for your studies
• Sunk cost fallacy
• Straw man fallacy
• Slippery slope fallacy
• Red herring fallacy
• Ecological fallacy
• Logical fallacy

Research bias

• Implicit bias
• Framing bias
• Cognitive bias
• Optimism bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Unconscious bias

No, it’s not a good idea to do so in general—first, because it’s normally considered plagiarism or academic dishonesty to represent someone else’s work as your own (even if that “someone” is an AI language model). Even if you cite ChatGPT , you’ll still be penalized unless this is specifically allowed by your university . Institutions may use AI detectors to enforce these rules.

Second, ChatGPT can recombine existing texts, but it cannot really generate new knowledge. And it lacks specialist knowledge of academic topics. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain original research results, and the text produced may contain factual errors.

However, you can usually still use ChatGPT for assignments in other ways, as a source of inspiration and feedback.

Yes, you can use ChatGPT to summarize text . This can help you understand complex information more easily, summarize the central argument of your own paper, or clarify your research question.

You can also use Scribbr’s free text summarizer , which is designed specifically for this purpose.

Yes, you can use ChatGPT to paraphrase text to help you express your ideas more clearly, explore different ways of phrasing your arguments, and avoid repetition.

However, it’s not specifically designed for this purpose. We recommend using a specialized tool like Scribbr’s free paraphrasing tool , which will provide a smoother user experience.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Driessen, K. (2023, September 11). How to Write an Introduction Using ChatGPT | Tips & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/ai-tools/chatgpt-essay-introduction/

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• NATURE INDEX
• 18 September 2024

Rise of ChatGPT and other tools raises major questions for research

• Simon Baker

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Illustration: Neil Webb

It has been less than two years since Nature Index last looked at research data on artificial intelligence (AI), but it is a demonstration of the breathtaking speed of the field’s growth that it is now firmly rooted in the public’s consciousness as the technological revolution of our time. The launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 was a watershed moment, immediately raising questions about how large language models (LLMs) would transform society, especially the world of work.

Nature Index 2024 Artificial intelligence

Research is just one area scrambling to understand the potential impact of AI technologies. In this supplement, we investigate some of the pressing issues it faces, including how AI might be used to evaluate studies and researchers , many of whom worry it will just increase the already heavy burden of assessment. There are also major questions about academia’s role as AI takes hold , especially given that current progress is largely driven by powerful companies with a commercial interest in keeping their research and data secret. Big tech’s grip on AI is vexing governments, too, as shown by the impact that lobbyists are having on emerging consumer regulation .

In Nature Index journals, corporate research output is growing — in the United States, the leading country for AI research, it more than doubled from a Share of 51.8 in 2019 to 106.5 in 2021. But it still continues to represent a tiny proportion of total AI Share — just 3.8% in the United States last year — suggesting companies are either publishing the bulk of their research elsewhere or are keeping it under wraps. It is also concerning that the global south, where AI could help accelerate development, is under-represented; South Africa is the only African country in the top 40 nations for AI output, for instance. Although Nature Index journals represent a fraction of AI research, finding ways to redress these imbalances is essential to ensure that this revolution benefits everyone.

Nature 633 , S5 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02984-4

This article is part of Nature Index 2024 Artificial intelligence , an editorially independent supplement. Advertisers have no influence over the content. For more information about Nature Index, see the homepage .

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How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Resume

You could use an AI assist to streamline the painful process of writing a new resume. Here are all the steps.

If you're looking for a new job , a great resume can get your foot in the door. Unlike a cover letter, which has to be tweaked for every new position, you only need to update  your resume every year or two to showcase your latest skills and experience alongside your education, honors and references.

With the state of the job market; mass layoffs; and the shift to the gig economy, investing time now to create an epic resume will pay off. Your resume is the first touch-point you have with a prospective employer, but if staring at a blank page and trying to write about yourself is discouraging, then let artificial intelligence do the legwork. 

ChatGPT , the breakout generative AI tool, can help you with the best practices of resume writing and speed up the process. If there's one thing AI is good at, it's synthesizing, structuring and summarizing information. And once you have your resume, you can use it to create a custom cover letter . 

You can use a free version of ChatGPT or pay $20 per month for added features like the  most recent models , priority access during peak usage, and image generation. 

If you're struggling to condense career highlights over decades into two pages, read on.

Read more: Job Hunting With AI: 6 Techniques We Tried and How They Work

Creating a resume from scratch

Set yourself up for success by doing some preparation. ChatGPT needs context, otherwise it'll spit out generic content that's sometimes even wrong . I started by researching reporter resume templates and jotted down notes about past experience, education and accomplishments. 

Then to find out what ChatGPT needs, just ask. "Can you write me a resume?" was my first prompt, and ChatGPT conveniently told me all the information to input so it could get to work. 

I replied with all my information, outlined like this, and attached my preferred format: 

Here is my professional summary: [paste]  Here is my work experience: [paste]  Here are my major clients: [paste]  Here is my education: [paste]  Please generate a list of skills based on my experience and format my resume like the example below: [paste template]

ChatGPT does a great job of organizing information into a cohesive format, but I wanted to change it so it flowed a little better (it put my education before my experience, making it look at first glance like I didn't have any experience). 

Please reorganize the following sections in this order: 

• Contact Details 
• Summary 
• Experience 
• Major Clients 
• Skills 

Looking good.

Keep your info less sensitive

You'll see that I didn't give the chatbot my contact details to add to the resume. I prefer to keep my sensitive information out of the model to avoid any future data breaches or unnecessary risk, so I'll add my email, phone number and address myself in the final version. 

When reviewing ChatGPT's draft, I noticed two issues: 

• My 10 years as a full-time freelancer needed to be fleshed out, by adding noteworthy projects and long contracts. 
• The skills list was way too long. 

Back in ChatGPT I wrote the following:

Please add two contract roles under Freelance Reporter and Writer in the experience section. 

Freelance Reporter at NerdWallet, August 2022 - present. Tasks: Writing personal finance advice articles, providing insights and strategies to educate and empower everyday consumers in Australia. Topics include credit cards, travel points, frequent flyer programs, BNPL, credit scores, money management, and more.

Freelance Reporter at Decential, September 2022 - present. Tasks: Reporting on the people, projects and protocols in the world of web3. Cover news, interview founders, write deep dive features and commentary, and cover in-person events and conferences.

Then, instead of reducing the skills list, I asked that it be arranged in two columns. The chatbot put the info into a table, which I didn't like, so I asked that it be removed. 

ChatGPT still had a hard time with it. I asked it again to present the info in two columns, with a space in between but without a table or borders. You can highlight a section and reply specifically there. 

But it still didn't work, so I stopped wasting time and did it myself directly in the document. 

Final tweaks

Before I made my final tweaks, I asked ChatGPT to provide a short list of suggestions for how to improve my resume. It gave me some solid advice -- like highlighting achievements, quantifying results, tailoring my resume to a specific job, adding keywords and making my professional summary more concise -- but take it with a grain of salt. 

For example, my professional summary shows my narrative abilities and doesn't take up much real estate. I did, however, add a section for notable projects.  

Though some advice was relevant, like adding metrics to achievements and starting each bullet point with a strong action verb, the others weren't necessary. For instance, I didn't want to make my profile more concise, because that's where I show off my narrative ability for writing jobs. When using artificial intelligence, always trust your human instinct. 

Last, I wanted to get it down from four pages to three, so I arranged my major clients into two columns and reduced the skills list. You can see the final version of my AI-created resume below.

Once ChatGPT is done with the nitty-gritty, you can add the finishing touches yourself. I'll drop in my logo and byline hyperlinks, then it's good to go!

For more AI tips, check out  how to use Midjourney to create custom wedding invitations  and how to use AI-powered Grammarly to do all of your editing . For news and hands-on reviews of gen AI tools  ChatGPT ,  Copilot ,  Gemini  and more, check out CNET's  AI Atlas  hub.

ChatGPT's final resume for me:

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

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When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

6 ways to write better ChatGPT prompts - and get the results you want faster

ChatGPT is the generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool that's taken the world by storm. While there's always the possibility it will simply make stuff up , there's a lot you can do when crafting prompts to ensure the best possible outcome. That's what we'll be exploring in this how-to.

In this article, I'll show you how to write prompts that encourage the large language model (LLM) that powers  ChatGPT to provide the best possible answers. 

Also: I've tested dozens of AI chatbots since ChatGPT's debut. Here's my new top pick

Writing effective prompts, known as prompt engineering, has even become a  highly-paid discipline . Who knows? These tips could help you build the skills to become a prompt engineer. Apparently, these gigs can pay from $175,000 to $335,000 per year.  

How to write effective ChatGPT prompts

1. talk to the ai like you would a person.

One of the more interesting things I had to get used to when working with ChatGPT is that you don't program it; you talk to it. As a formally trained programmer, I've had to abandon many habits when engaging with AI. Talking to it (and with it) requires a mindset shift.

When I say talk to it like a person, I mean talk to it like you would a coworker or team member. If that's hard to do, give it a name. Alexa is taken, so maybe think of it as Bob. This naming helps because when you talk to Bob, you might include conversational details and anecdotes that give your story texture.

Also:   How to use ChatGPT to write code

When you're talking to a person, it would be natural for them to miss your point initially and require clarification or veer away from the topic at hand and need to be wrangled back. You might need to fill in the backstory for them or restate complex questions based on the answers they give you. 

This is called interactive prompting. Don't be afraid to ask ChatGPT multi-step questions: ask, get a response, and based on that response, ask another question. I've done this myself, sometimes 10 or 20 times in a row, and gotten very powerful results. Think of this as having a conversation with ChatGPT.

2. Set the stage and provide context

Writing a ChatGPT prompt is more than just asking a one-sentence question. It often involves providing relevant background information to set the context of the query.

Let's say that you want to prepare for a marathon (for the record, I do not run, dance, or jump -- this is merely an example). You could ask ChatGPT:

How can I prepare for a marathon?

However, you'll get a far more nuanced answer if you add that you're training for your first marathon. Try this instead: 

I am a beginner runner and have never run a marathon before, but I want to complete one in six months. How can I prepare for a marathon?

By giving the AI more information, you're helping it return a more focused answer.  Here are two more examples of questions that provide context:

I am planning to travel to Spain in a few months and would like to learn some basic Spanish to help me communicate with local residents. I am looking for online resources that are suitable for beginners and provide a structured and comprehensive approach to learning the language. Can you recommend some online resources for learning Spanish as a beginner?

In this case, rather than just asking about learning resources, the context helps focus the AI on learning how to communicate on the ground with local residents. Here's another example: 

I am a business owner interested in exploring how blockchain technology can be used to improve supply chain efficiency and transparency. I am looking for a clear and concise explanation of the technology and examples of how it has been used in the context of supply chain management. Can you explain the concept of blockchain technology and its potential applications in supply chain management?

In this example, rather than just asking for information on blockchain and its workings, the focus is specifically on blockchain for supply chain efficiency and how it might be used in a real-world scenario. 

Also: The most popular programming languages in 2024 (and what that even means)

Lastly, let's get into how to construct a detailed prompt. 

One note: I limit the answer to 500 words because ChatGPT sometimes breaks when asked to produce somewhere between 500 and 700 words, leaving stories mid-sentence and not resuming properly when asked to continue. I hope future versions provide longer answers because premises like this can generate fun story beginnings: 

Write a short story for me, no more than 500 words. The story takes place in 2339, in Boston. The entire story takes place inside a Victorian-style bookstore that wouldn't be out of place in Diagon Alley. Inside the store are the following characters, all human: The proprietor: make this person interesting and a bit unusual, give them a name and at least one skill or characteristic that influences their backstory and possibly influences the entire short story. The helper: this is a clerk in the store. His name is Todd. The customer and his friend: Two customers came into the store together, Jackson and Ophelia. Jackson is dressed as if he's going to a Steampunk convention, while Ophelia is clearly coming home from her day working in a professional office. Another customer is Evangeline, a regular customer in the store, in her mid-40s. Yet another customer is Archibald, a man who could be anywhere from 40 to 70 years old. He has a mysterious air about himself and seems both somewhat grandiose and secretive. There is something about Archibald that makes the others uncomfortable. A typical concept in retail sales is that there's always more inventory "in the back," where there's a storeroom for additional goods that might not be shown on the shelves where customers browse. The premise of this story is that there is something very unusual about this store's "in the back." Put it all together and tell something compelling and fun.

You can see how the detail provides more for the AI to work with. First, feed "Write me a story about a bookstore" into ChatGPT and see what it gives you. Then feed in the above prompt, and you'll see the difference.

3. Tell the AI to assume an identity or profession

One of ChatGPT's coolest features is that it can write from the point of view of a specific person or profession. In a previous article, I showed how you can make ChatGPT write like a pirate or Shakespeare , but you can also have it write like a teacher, a marketing executive, a fiction writer -- anyone you want. 

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For example, I can ask ChatGPT to describe the Amazon Echo smart home device from the point of view of a product manager, a caregiver, or a journalist in three separate prompts: 

From the point of view of its product manager, describe the Amazon Echo Alexa device. From the point of view of an adult child caring for an elderly parent, describe the Amazon Echo Alexa device. From the point of view of a journalist, describe the Amazon Echo Alexa device.

Try dropping these three prompts into ChatGPT to see its complete response. 

I've pulled a few lines from ChatGPT's responses so you can see how it interprets different perspectives.  From the product manager identity:  I can confidently say that this is one of the most innovative and revolutionary products in the smart home industry.

From the caregiver identity:  The device's ability to set reminders and alarms can be particularly helpful for elderly individuals who may have trouble remembering to take their medication or attend appointments.

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And from the journalist identity:  From a journalistic perspective, the Echo has made headlines due to privacy concerns surrounding the collection and storage of user data.

You can see how different identities allow the AI to provide different perspectives as part of its response. To expand this, you can let the AI do a thought experiment. Let's look at some of the issues that went into the creation of something like Alexa:

The year is 2012. Siri has been out for the iPhone for about a year, but nothing like an Alexa smart home device has been released. The scene is an Amazon board meeting where the Echo smart assistant based on Alexa has just been proposed.  Provide the arguments, pro and con, that board members at that meeting would have been likely to discuss as part of their process of deciding whether or not to approve spending to invest in developing the device.  Feel free to also include participation by engineering design experts and product champions, if that provides more comprehensive perspective.

It's also good to know that making minor changes to your prompts can significantly change ChatGPT's response. For example, when I changed the phrase, "Provide the arguments, pro and con, that..." to "Provide the pro and con arguments as dialogue, that...," ChatGPT rewrote its answer, switching from a list of enumerated pros and cons to an actual dialogue between participants.

4. Keep ChatGPT on track

As mentioned above, ChatGPT tends to go off the rails, lose track of the discussion, or completely fabricate answers. 

There are a few techniques you can use to help keep it on track and honest.

One of my favorite things to do is ask ChatGPT to justify its responses. I'll use phrases like "Why do you think that?" or "What evidence supports your answer?" The AI will often apologize for making stuff up and come back with a new answer. Other times, it might give you some useful information about its reasoning path. In any case, don't forget to apply  the tips I provide for having ChatGPT cite sources .

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If you have a fairly long conversation with ChatGPT, you'll start to notice that the AI loses the thread. Not that that's unique to AIs -- even in extended conversations with humans, someone is bound to get lost. That said, you can gently guide the AI back on track by reminding it what the topic is and what you're trying to explore.

I've had some luck by telling the AI to  re-read my prompt . Basically, the technique is to issue a prompt, then tell the AI something like: "re-read this," and follow that up with the exact prompt passed earlier. You could refine or add to the prompt if you want, and see what happens. The idea is that re-reading forces the AI to rethink and clarify what it just read.

5. Tell the AI to re-read the prompt.

I've had some luck by telling the AI to re-read my prompt. Basically, the technique is to issue a prompt, then tell the AI something like: "re-read this," and follow that up with the exact prompt passed earlier. You could refine or add to the prompt if you want, and see what happens. The idea is that re-reading forces the AI to rethink and clarify what it just read.

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This may seem silly, but think about the analog in human conversation. You're talking to someone, even right in the middle of a deep conversation. But their eyes seem blank and they're expression is a million miles away. Whether they suddenly began to daydream about getting another cup of coffee or your conversation set off a long dormant memory, it's clear they're not following along.

So, you repeat your statement. Sometimes you do it with annoyance, but, "hey, did you hear me say..." is not uncommon, right? So, telling the AI, "re-read the prompt one more time: I am a beginner runner and have never run a marathon before, but I want to complete one in six months. How can I prepare for a marathon?" may bring the AI back on track and get it to become more engaged.

Here's a fascinating academic paper on the topic. Well worth reading...and re-reading.

6. Don't be afraid to play and experiment

One of the best ways to up your skill at this craft is to play around with what the chatbot can do.

Try feeding ChatGPT a variety of interesting prompts to see what it will do with them. Then change them up and see what happens. Here are five to get you started:

• Imagine you are a raindrop falling from the sky during a thunderstorm. Describe your journey from the moment you form in the cloud to the moment you hit the ground. What do you see, feel, and experience?
• You are a toy that has been left behind in an attic for decades. Narrate your feelings, memories of playtimes past, and your hopes of being rediscovered.
• Write the final diary entry of a time traveler who has decided to settle down in a specific era, explaining why they chose that time and what they've learned from their travels.
• Imagine a dialogue between two unlikely objects, like a teacup and a wristwatch, discussing the daily routines and challenges they face.
• Describe a day in an ant colony from the perspective of an ant. Dive deep into the politics, challenges, and social structures of the ant world.

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Pay attention not only to what the AI generates but how it generates what it does, what mistakes it makes, and where it seems to run into limits. All of that detail will help you expand your prompting horizons.

More prompt-writing tips 

• Feel free to re-ask the question. ChatGPT will often change its answer with each ask.
• Make small changes to your prompts to guide it into giving you a better answer.
• ChatGPT will retain its awareness of previous conversations as long as the current page is open. If you leave that page, it will lose awareness. To be clear, ChatGPT will also sometimes lose the thread of the conversation without reason, so be aware you may need to start over from time to time.
• Similarly, opening a new page will start the discussion with fresh responses.
• Be sure to specify the length of the response you want. Answers longer than about 500 words sometimes break down. 
• You can correct and clarify prompts based on how the AI answered previously. If it's misinterpreting you, you may be able to just tell it what it missed and continue.
• Rephrase questions if ChatGPT doesn't want to answer what you're asking. Use personas to elicit answers that it might not otherwise want to give.
• If you want sources cited , tell it to support or justify its answers.
• ChatGPT custom instructions are now available to free users. You can  give ChatGPT a set of prompts that are always available , so you don't have to retype them.
• Keep experimenting.
• Consider getting the ChatGPT Plus subscription . You'll get more time to interact with the AI before it shuts you down and asks you to wait for another session. 
• Try asking the same question of Gemini  (formerly Bard) or Copilot (formerly Bing Chat). Both will interpret your prompts differently and answer differently. This is effectively getting a second opinion on your prompt, and can give you alternate perspectives.
• Ask for examples. If you want to see how well ChatGPT understands what you're asking for, ask it, "Can you give me three examples of how that works?" or similar questions.
• Ask it to repeat parts of your original requests back to you. For example, if you feed it an article to analyze, you can tell it something like, "Just to be sure you understand, please echo back the first three headlines," or "I want to be sure you understand what I mean, so summarize the main conflict discussed in this article." 
• Sometimes ChatGPT just fails. Keep trying, but also be willing to give up and move on to other tools. It's not perfect...yet.

What type of prompts work best with ChatGPT? 

Part of what makes ChatGPT so compelling is you can ask it almost anything. That said, keep in mind that it's designed to provide written answers. If you want a list of websites, you're better off talking to Google. 

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If you want some form of computation, talk to Wolfram Alpha . Give ChatGPT open-ended prompts, encourage creativity, and don't be afraid to share personal experiences or emotions. Plus, keep in mind that the AI's knowledge ends in 2021  for ChatGPT 3.5 and December 2023 for ChatGPT 4 in ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT 4o, which is available in both Plus and free modes.

How can I adjust the complexity of ChatGPT responses?

You can directly specify the complexity level by including it in your prompt. Add "... at a high school level" or "... at a level intended for a Ph.D. to understand" to the end of your question. You can also increase the complexity of output by increasing the richness of your input. The more you provide in your prompt, the more detailed and nuanced ChatGPT's response will be. You can also include other specific instructions, like "Give me a summary," "Explain in detail," or "Provide a technical description."

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You can also pre-define profiles. For example, you could say "When evaluating something for a manager, assume an individual with a four-year business college education, a lack of detailed technical understanding, and a fairly limited attention span, who likes to get answers that are clear and concise. When evaluating something for a programmer, assume considerable technical knowledge, an enjoyment of geek and science fiction references, and a desire for a complete answer. Accuracy is deeply important to programmers, so double-check your work."

If you ask ChatGPT to "explain C++ to a manager" and "explain C++ to a programmer," you'll see how the responses differ.

How can I adjust the creativity level of ChatGPT's responses?

In the same way that you can adjust the complexity level, you can adjust the creativity level. It's a matter of providing a prompt that guides the AI in that direction. For example, use "please include creative, open-ended responses" or "please provide factual, concise replies" in your prompts.

What do I do if ChatGPT refuses to answer or I don't like its answer? 

There are some guardrails built into ChatGPT. It tends to shut down if you ask it political questions, for example. That's what's built into the system. While you might be able to tease out an answer, it's probably not going to provide great value. That said, feel free to keep trying with different phrasing or perspectives. 

You can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly update newsletter on Substack , and follow me on Twitter at @DavidGewirtz , on Facebook at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz , on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz , and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV .

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