DOs and DONTs With ChatGPT for Your Research

Introduction

In this section, the speaker introduces the topic of Chat GPT and outlines what will be covered in the session.

What is Chat GPT?

• The speaker addresses common questions about Chat GPT, including its accuracy and potential to save time.

The Promise of AI

• The speaker discusses their initial skepticism towards AI but how they have come around to see its potential as a tool for research.

• They use an analogy with chess players who have developed a symbiotic relationship with AI rather than opposing it.

Do's and Don'ts

• The speaker provides a list of do's and don'ts when using Chat GPT for research.

• They recommend using it to help find gaps, make an outline, and edit but not to make a first draft or structure submissions to journals.

Using Chat GPT for Research

In this section, the speaker demonstrates how to use Chat GPT for research purposes.

Accessing Chat GPT

• The speaker notes that accessing Chat GPT can sometimes be problematic but hopes that it will work during the session.

• They mention that the current version is version four but note that this may change in the future.

Finding a Gap

• The speaker demonstrates how to use Chat GPT to help find a gap in your research.

Making an Outline

• The speaker shows how you can use Chat GPT to create an outline for your research.

Editing

• The speaker demonstrates how to use Chat GPT to edit your work.

Using Chat GPT to Identify Research Gaps

In this section, the speaker discusses how to use Chat GPT to identify research gaps. The limitations of using Chat GPT are also highlighted.

Identifying Research Gaps

• The speaker demonstrates how to use Chat GPT to identify research gaps by searching for "current research gaps on how social welfare policies impact well-being of children."

• The speaker mentions that Chat GPT may not be helpful in identifying gaps for rapidly evolving fields.

• The speaker shares an example of a systematic review on the long-term impacts of paid parental leave on children's well-being that was identified as a research gap using Chat GPT.

Benefits and Limitations

• The speaker highlights the benefits of using Chat GPT, such as discovering new avenues for research and fueling creativity.

• Students are encouraged to rank the identified research gaps based on feasibility and interest.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of having a clearly defined gap at the beginning of a research project.

• A user shares their experience with manually scanning papers for one month before finding a gap that was also identified by Chat GPT. The limitations of free and plus versions are also discussed.

Computer Vision and Quality Control

The speaker discusses the concept of computer vision and its impact on quality control. They also caution against using AI-generated literature reviews for academic purposes.

Definition of Computer Vision

• The speaker is unsure about the meaning of computer vision as a term in computer science.

• Computer vision automates inspection processes, which is cool and interesting to learn about.

Impact on Quality Control

• The speaker wants to know more about quality control and how it relates to computer vision.

• Different themes of quality control are generated by the AI, which can be useful as background information but not for academic purposes.

• The speaker asks what the current gap in research is regarding the impact of computer vision on quality control.

Caution Against Using AI-generated Literature Reviews

• The speaker cautions against using AI-generated literature reviews for academic purposes due to plagiarism detection systems and lack of proper citations.

Understanding Chat GPT

In this section, the speaker talks about the importance of not blindly copying and pasting references generated by Chat GPT. They also discuss the difference between the free and plus versions of Chat GPT.

References Generated by Chat GPT

• The speaker warns against blindly copying and pasting references generated by Chat GPT.

• The speaker explains that while Chat GPT is honest about generating fake references, it's important to avoid running the risk of using them in academic work.

• The speaker discusses the differences between the free and plus versions of Chat GPT, recommending that most users stick with the free version unless they need more access.

Making an Outline with Chat GPT

• The speaker recommends using Chat GPT to create an outline for a literature review on a specific topic.

• By using an outline generated by Chat GPT, students can highlight important themes in their area without relying on random citations or evidence.

• After generating an outline with Chat GPT, students can use Google Scholar to find relevant sources and flesh out their literature review.

Using Google Scholar for Literature Reviews

In this section, the speaker demonstrates how to use Google Scholar to find relevant sources for a literature review.

Searching for Relevant Sources

• The speaker recommends searching for relevant sources on Google Scholar by entering keywords related to your topic.

• Once you have a list of relevant sources, the speaker recommends copying and pasting them into a Word document to create an outline for your literature review.

• The speaker demonstrates how to use a "strip method" to quickly scan through articles and determine whether they are relevant to your research.

Literature Review Formula

In this section, the speaker discusses how to approach a literature review and provides a formula for it.

Approach to Literature Review

• The same formula applies to literature reviews: what did they do, what did they find, and fleshing out the details.

• Replicability is important in research, but neural networks like GPT can be problematic because they are not always replicable.

• An outline is a good way to condense a literature review into something more manageable.

Using Search Engines for Citations

• Do not rely on chat GPT for citations and evidence in your literature review. Use search engines like Google Scholar or PubMed instead.

Using Chat GPT as a Copy Editor

• Chat GPT can be used as your own copy editor. It can help with language editing and making writing more efficient.

• However, substantive issues cannot be solely relied upon chat GPT to spot.

Overall, the speaker provides tips on how to approach a literature review by using an outline and search engines for citations. Additionally, chat GPT can be used as a copy editor but should not be solely relied upon for substantive issues.

Academic Manuscript for Clarity

The speaker discusses the process of submitting an academic manuscript to a journal and how to improve its clarity.

Improving Manuscript Style

• Encourages students to look at papers in the target journal and get as close to that style as possible.

• Use the target journal's style as a reference if possible.

Cleaning Up Manuscript

• Chat GPT can clean up typos and make manuscripts more readable.

• Editing your own work is ethical, but there are open questions about declaring outside help. Speaker recommends transparency.

Reviewer Criticisms

• Chat GPT can identify potential reviewer criticisms, but it's not foolproof.

• Always aim to be bulletproof when submitting a manuscript to a journal.

Writing Effective Emails

The speaker provides tips on writing effective emails.

Email Structure

• Keep emails short and concise with clear subject lines.

• Use bullet points or numbered lists for clarity when necessary.

Tone and Language

• Be polite and professional in tone, avoiding slang or overly casual language.

• Avoid using all caps or excessive exclamation points which can come across as aggressive or unprofessional.

Email Content

• Clearly state the purpose of the email in the opening sentence or paragraph.

• Provide any necessary context or background information before making requests or asking questions.

Tips for Effective Presentations

The speaker provides tips on giving effective presentations.

Preparation

• Know your audience and tailor your presentation to their interests and needs.

• Practice your presentation multiple times to ensure you are comfortable with the material.

Presentation Structure

• Use a clear and concise structure, including an introduction, main points, and conclusion.

• Use visual aids such as slides or handouts to enhance understanding of the material.

Delivery

• Speak clearly and at an appropriate pace, avoiding filler words such as "um" or "like".

• Engage with the audience through eye contact and body language.

Don't Use Chat GPT for Critiques

The speaker advises against using Chat GPT to find critiques as they are likely private.

Using Chat GPT to Identify Journals and Reviewers

• The speaker advises against using Chat GPT to identify the right journal or potential reviewers.

• Chat GPT is not good at identifying sympathetic reviewers.

• It can be used as a learning tool to find potential reviewers, but it may be slow.

• The alternative target journals suggested by Chat GPT may not be a good fit.

Drafting Cover Letters with Chat GPT

• The speaker suggests drafting your own cover letter and then using Chat GPT to improve it.

• Chat GPT provides generic advice on drafting cover letters, which may not be helpful.

• To make the cover letter more impactful, start with the main finding and connect emotionally with editors.

Connect Emotionally with Editors

The speaker emphasizes the importance of connecting emotionally with editors when submitting research papers.

Making an Impactful Cover Letter

• Start the cover letter by highlighting ongoing concerns related to your research topic.

• Report extreme findings that have not been seen anywhere else.

• Connect emotionally with editors by emphasizing the significance of your research.

Identifying Journals and Reviewers

• Identify journals that are a good fit for your research topic.

• Find sympathetic reviewers who will understand the significance of your research.

Using Chat GPT for Research Writing

In this section, the speaker discusses the use of Chat GPT in research writing and how it can be used to improve grammar, editing, and identifying gaps in research. However, the speaker also emphasizes that blindly relying on Chat GPT is not recommended as it can hinder one's ability to develop skills in identifying gaps and conducting original work.

Benefits of Using Chat GPT

• Using Chat GPT can help improve research writing by providing assistance with grammar, editing, and identifying gaps.

• Live demonstration sessions can provide training on using Chat GPT effectively.

• When used correctly, Chat GPT can effectively guide researchers towards identifying gaps in their work.

Limitations of Blindly Relying on Chat GPT

• Blindly relying on Chat GPT can hinder one's ability to develop skills in identifying gaps and conducting original work.

• Researchers should still conduct the original part of their work themselves to ensure they have a tight outline and winning gap.

Final Thoughts

• While using Chat GPT is not indispensable, it can be helpful when used correctly.

• Joining a Facebook group for support from peers and experts can be beneficial for researchers.