Using generative artificial intelligence tools in academic writing
Terms
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is an artificial intelligence technology that can create new content (e.g. images or text) based on a query or other specified criteria.
Generative Artificial Intelligence tools (GAI tools) are platforms that incorporate Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) models and allow users to generate text, images or other content using simple and intuitive interfaces.
Quotation is an exact extract from a text or speech given in support of an idea or argument or proof in another text.
Reference – a note identifying the source of information from which a quotation is taken, or a publication that provides further information on a subject.
Footnote – an explanation, note, reference, or other additional information at the bottom of a page or at the end of a chapter or book.
Bibliographic description – the set of data needed to identify and describe an information source.
Citation style – the order in which the elements of the bibliographic description of a cited source are arranged.
Principles
The usage of generative artificial intelligence tools in academic writing must respect the following principles:
- Transparency: the use of GAI tools must be publicly disclosed.
- Academic integrity: the use of GAI tools is clearly stated, with appropriate citation or declaration of use of the GAI model. Failure to disclose the use of the GAI model in academic work may be considered academic dishonesty.
- Copyright enforcement: the author of the work must ensure that intellectual property rights are not infringed.
- Responsibility: the author is responsible for the content of his/her paper, even for those parts of the paper that have been produced with the GAI tool, and is therefore liable for any violation of publication ethics.
Citation
When using GAI-generated text or its paraphrase, this content must be identified and cited in the same way as any other author’s text. Examples of citations are given below, but it is important to note that different disciplines use different citation styles, so these examples should be adapted accordingly.
APA style
In text
The introductory part of the paper should describe how the tools of generative AI have been used. The text must include the question (query) posed to the GAI tool and an exact quotation or paraphrase of the text generated by the GAI. According to the APA citation style rules, the author of the text generated by the GAI tool is the developer/company of the GAI tool, so references after the quoted or paraphrased GAI text should indicate the developer, and the year of the question asked in brackets. The full answers generated by the GAI tool may be included in the appendices of the paper.
e.g. the exact quote:
In response to the question „What are the Sustainable Development Goals?“, ChatGPT generated the answer “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They are designed to address a wide range of issues affecting people, the planet, and prosperity, aiming to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world by 2030” (OpenAI, 2024).
e.g. paraphrased text:
When asked the question „What are the Sustainable Development Goals?“, ChatGPT generated the answer that there are 17 global goals set by the United Nations to ensure a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030 (OpenAI, 2024).
e.g. the full GAI-generated responses are given in the annexes:
When asked the question „What are the Sustainable Development Goals?“, ChatGPT generated the answer that there are the 17 global goals set by the United Nations to ensure a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030 (OpenAI, 2024, see Annex 1).
In the Annexes
e.g.:
Annex 1: Text generated by ChatGPT
Question: What are the Sustainable Development Goals? (30/09/2024)
Answer:
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They are designed to address a wide range of issues affecting people, the planet, and prosperity, aiming to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world by 2030.
In the reference list
The bibliographic descriptions of the GAI-generated text are given in the reference list.
e.g..:
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (3.5 version) [Large Language Model]. https://openai.com/chatgpt/.
Chicago citation style
The use of the text generated by the GAI tool must be described in the introductory part of the paper. The question posed to the GAI tool must be included in the text of the paper or in the references. The bibliographical description of the GAI-generated text does not need to be included in the reference list.
· Author-date method
In text
The text should contain the question posed to the GAI tool and an exact quotation or paraphrase of the answer. According to the Chicago citation style rules, the author of the text generated by the GAI tool is the GAI tool and its creator/company is the publisher. References after the quoted or paraphrased GAI text should include the name of the GAI tool and the exact date of the question in brackets.
E.g. exact quote:
In response to the question „What are the Sustainable Development Goals?“, ChatGPT generated the answer “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They are designed to address a wide range of issues affecting people, the planet, and prosperity, aiming to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world by 2030” (ChatGPT, September 30th, 2024).
e.g. paraphrased text:
When asked the question „What are the Sustainable Development Goals?“, ChatGPT generated the answer that they are 17 global goals set by the United Nations to ensure a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030 (ChatGPT, September 30th, 2024).
In the reference list
The GAI-generated text does not need to be included in the reference list.
· Notes and bibliography method
The question posed to the GAI tool can be included in the text of the paper or in footnotes at the bottom of the page. A footnote number is inserted after the quoted or paraphrased generated text, and the footnote at the bottom of the page contains information about the quoted generated text: the author (GAI tool), the question given to the GAI (if it is not mentioned in the text), the creator of the GAI tool, the exact date of the question. If a question is mentioned in the text, it does not need to be repeated in a footnote. When re-quoting text generated by a GAI tool, only the name of the GAI tool is included in the footnote.
E.g., text generated by the GAI is quoted for the first time (question not mentioned in the text):
“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They are designed to address a wide range of issues affecting people, the planet, and prosperity, aiming to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world by 2030“1.
________________________
- ChatGPT, response to „What are the Sustainable Development Goals?“ OpenAI, September 30, 2024, https://openai.com/chatgpt/.
E.g., the text generated by the GAI is quoted for the first time (the question is mentioned in the text):
In response to the question „What are the Sustainable Development Goals?“, ChatGPT generated the answer “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They are designed to address a wide range of issues affecting people, the planet, and prosperity, aiming to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world by 2030” 1.
________________________
- Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, September 30, 2024, https://openai.com/chatgpt/.
E.g., GAI generated text is re-quoted:
17 Sustainable Development Goals: no poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reducing inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace, justice and strong institutions; partnerships for achieving the Goals2.
________________________
- ChatGPT.
In the reference list
The GAI-generated text does not need to be included in the reference list.
ISO 690:2021 standard
In text
The introductory part of the paper should describe which and how GAI tools have been used. The text must contain the question posed to the GAI tool and an exact quotation or paraphrase of the text generated by the GAI. The full answers generated by the GDI tool can be included in the appendices of the paper.
e.g. the exact quote:
In response to the question „What are the Sustainable Development Goals?“, ChatGPT generated the answer “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They are designed to address a wide range of issues affecting people, the planet, and prosperity, aiming to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world by 2030“ [1].
e.g. paraphrased text:
When asked the question „What are the Sustainable Development Goals?“, ChatGPT generated the answer that they are 17 global goals set by the United Nations to ensure a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030 [1].
In the reference list
The bibliographic descriptions of the GAI-generated text are given in the reference list.
E.g.,
- OPENAI. ChatGPT. Large language Model. 3.5 version. Available from: https://openai.com/chatgpt/ [viewed 2024-09-30].
Literature:
Citation, Documentation of Sources. The Chicago Manual of Style Online. https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Documentation/faq0422.html.
Informacija ir dokumentavimas. Informacijos išteklių bibliografinių ir citavimo nuorodų gairės (tapatus ISO 690:2021). (2024). Vilnius : Lietuvos standartizacijos departamentas. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12259/237584.
Lietuvos Respublikos Akademinės etikos ir procedūrų kontrolieriaus įsakymą „Dėl dirbtinio intelekto etiško naudojimo mokslo ir studijų procese gairių tvirtinimo“, 2024 m. balandžio 29 d. nr. V-14. https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/093f89e0072811ef8e4be9fad87afa59?jfwid=1a9xggoq7m
McAdoo, T. (2024). How to cite ChatGPT. APA style. https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt.