Asking Chatgpt to clarify its value for supporting a student's literature review work.

Asking Chatgpt to clarify its value for supporting a student's literature review work.

The following is a record of my dialogue with Chatgpt (accessed via poe.com) about its value for supporting literature review work of students.

My question 1: "I am a part-time student, learning to do dissertation project. My understanding about Chatgpt is that it does not use academic journal articles for its training purpose. Does it mean that Chatgpt is not useful for supporting my literature review work for my dissertation project?"

The reply from chatgpt: "ChatgPT can still be useful for your literature review, even though it doesn't have direct access to academic journal articles. Here are some ways it can help:

Understanding Concepts: You can ask for explanations of key concepts and theories relevant to your field.

Identifying Topics: It can assist in brainstorming and refining research questions or topics based on your interests.

Summarizing Information: While it can’t summarize specific articles, it can help summarize general knowledge about a topic.

Finding Sources: It can suggest types of sources or databases where you might find relevant articles.

Writing Assistance: It can help you with structuring your literature review or providing writing tips.

Critically Analyzing Ideas: You can discuss different viewpoints or arguments to help frame your analysis.

While it’s important to verify information and consult primary sources, Chatgpt can be a valuable tool throughout your research process."

My question 2: "What are the issues I need to bear in mind when seeking Chatgpt for advice on my literature review effort, so as not to unintentionally commit plagiarism?"

The reply from Chatgpt: "When using Chatgpt for your literature review, consider the following to avoid unintentional plagiarism:

Originality of Content: Ensure that any text generated by ChatGPT is paraphrased in your own words. Avoid copying and pasting directly.

Citing Sources: Always cite the original sources of information or ideas. If you receive specific facts or theories, check their original sources and include proper citations in your work.

Cross-Verification: Use ChatGPT for guidance but verify facts and claims with credible academic sources. This helps maintain academic integrity.

Critical Thinking: Analyze the generated suggestions critically. Don’t present them as your own ideas without proper attribution.

Avoid Over-Reliance: Use ChatGPT as a supplementary resource. Relying too heavily on it can result in a lack of original thought in your work.

Plagiarism Check: Use plagiarism detection tools on your work to ensure originality before submission.

Understand Context: Ensure that you fully understand the material before integrating it into your review, as this will help you articulate your own analysis and viewpoint.

By keeping these points in mind, you can use ChatGPT effectively while maintaining academic integrity in your literature review."