ChatGPT in Academic Writing and Publishing: A Comprehensive Guide

ChatGPT in Research Conception (II)

2.1.4. Summarization

Summarization (text summary) is a technique used to create a short and consecutive summary of long texts (such as articles, reports, books, etc.). A text summarization can be performed by extracting the most important sentences or phrases from the original text or generating new sentences that capture the main points of the text (abstract summary) [18]. A text summarization can be used for a variety of purposes, such as providing a general overview of a topic, simplifying complex information, reducing time and space, etc. Another advantage of using ChatGPT to review the literature is that it can help synthesize information. ChatGPT analysis articles and generates summary or key information on research questions and topics [19].

ChatGPT can be used as a summary tool to extract key points and key information from long and complex documents [20] and as a possible application to compose manuscripts such as research papers, dissertations, and patents. The AI model also helps researchers and academic staff identify logical gaps or inconsistencies and generate constructive feedback for authors. Another possible application of ChatGPT in manuscript summaries, such as research papers, theses, and patents, is to use it as a comparison tool to compare different document summaries. ChatGPT can identify similarities and differences between documents and any differences or inconsistencies.

 Students and researchers can also ask ChatGPT to assess the quality and relevance of the documents and provide recommendations or suggestions based on the summary documents. ChatGPT can provide a concise and consistent summary of the document that highlights the main arguments, findings, and implications. From students to academic staff can use ChatGPT to customise the summary of their needs, such as length, detail level, or target audience (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Example of a summary of the existing literature on a specific topic.

2.1.5. Idea extraction

In research and development, coming up with innovative and unique ideas for a research paper can be a daunting task. Researchers should read the existing literature to extract valuable insights and ideas from it. As the field of artificial intelligence continues to develop, tools powered by artificial intelligence can enhance the research process. The OpenAI model can extract ideas and innovations from research papers (Figure 7). By entering a research paper into ChatGPT, researchers can quickly and easily identify key ideas and innovations discussed in the paper.

 ChatGPT can identify ideas and innovations that are not immediately visible to the human eye by recognising patterns and connections between different concepts that may not be realised even by the most diligent human reader. This may lead to new insights and discoveries that would not have been possible without the help of ChatGPT. By automating the process of extracting ideas and innovations from research documents, ChatGPT can save researchers hours of time. This allows researchers to focus on other aspects of their research, such as data analysis and experimentation. This is particularly beneficial in areas such as engineering and design where creativity and innovation are crucial.

 Of course, there are some limitations to the use of ChatGPT in research. For example, ChatGPT is only as good as the data on which it has been trained. If the model is not trained on a specific type of research paper, it cannot extract the ideas and innovations from that paper accurately. In addition, ChatGPT cannot recognise specific nuances or subtleties of language that human readers could grasp. However, ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can improve the research process and generate new ideas and innovations. Its ability to extract important ideas and innovations quickly and efficiently from research papers can save researchers time and improve the overall quality of their work. With the development of artificial intelligence, tools such as ChatGPT are likely to become increasingly important in the research process.

Figure 7. ChatGPT response to: What are the idea and innovation in "Green synthesis of olefin-linked covalent organic frameworks for hydrogen fuel cell applications"?.

2.1.6. Research design

Research design is an important aspect of any research project and requires a systematic approach to research design. The applications of ChatGPT in research design help authors select the best research methods and identify the most appropriate research methods based on research questions and available data. By using ChatGPT as AI assistant, researchers can save a lot of time in comparison to manually selecting research methods (Figure 8).

ChatGPT is also useful for the development of research instruments. ChatGPT helps researchers identify the most appropriate research instruments, such as surveys and interview protocols, by analysing the research questions and available data. The use of AI models such as ChatGPT in research design is especially useful for researchers developing research instruments for the first time.

Overall, ChatGPT is an important tool for researchers who want to streamline their workflow and improve the quality of their research. Its ability to raise research questions, support literature reviews, identify literature gaps, synthesise information, and conduct research designs can save researchers time and improve the quality of their research documents. The use of an AI model saves researchers considerable time, compared to reading and synthesising the article manually. However, researchers must be aware of its limitations and use it in conjunction with other research tools and methods. Furthermore, researchers should be careful when interpreting ChatGPT results and ensure that the articles identified and the analysis are accurate and relevant to the research questions or themes.

Figure 8. Example of a research design on a specific topic.