Since ChatGPT was released, it has become a widespread tool in many spheres, including research writing. And researchers have a number of reasons for doing this, as its natural language processing capabilities make it an invaluable tool for researchers looking to streamline their research process and improve their writing skills.

Research writing is a complex task that requires careful planning, attention to detail, and the ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and concise manner. With the advanced language processing algorithms that ChatGPT possess, researchers can generate high-quality writing in a fraction of the time it would take to do it manually, freeing up more time to focus on other aspects of their research.

But scholars wonder whether ChatGPT is a game changer or an ethical risk. Let’s explore.

Possibilities of ChatGPT for research writing

Researchers are sure artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT may make their academic writing easier and more efficient. It is very helpful for non-native English speakers who face difficulties while preparing papers in a foreign language. Other advantages include the following:

Writing a research paper outline

ChatGPT can produce a well-arranged outline of scientific discourse or an impressive title for your research paper. Also, researchers can evaluate the text online and change it when it is needed.

Writing an abstract for your manuscript

ChatGPT can write you an effective and comprehensive abstract choosing impressive vocabulary and building a logical text.

Translating your text

ChatGPT can generate translations of text from one language into another. However, researchers may need to get the main idea of the text and understand what it is about. In this case, if you do not want a professional human-performed translation, artificial intelligence is a good assistant and may save you time.

Rewriting difficult passages

The tool is really good for rewriting a translated text. Also, it can generate definitions for common categories within your paper. Use ChatGPT, and you can arrange your ideas in a clear and understandable manner without lexical or grammatical errors.

Summarizing long articles or documents

The chatbot helps busy researchers with their literature search. Also, it may generate short summaries of full-text articles.

Training for specific skills

ChatGPT is used for training specific skills like language competency, text generation, and participating in dialogue or data augmentation.

Draft your paper

ChatGPT may generate draft sections of your paper, such as the introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. However, keep in mind that the review section demands more attention.

Edit and proofread your paper

ChatGPT will help you edit and proofread your paper for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

Concerns about the use of ChatGPT

While ChatGPT is a powerful tool for research writing, there are some limitations one needs to consider when using it.

Risk of biases

When writing a research paper, it is important to be aware of the risks of biases. Biases can come in many forms, such as confirmation bias, selection bias, or publication bias. They can lead to incorrect conclusions or flawed interpretations of data. To mitigate the risk of biases, researchers should strive to remain objective, use rigorous and transparent methods, and carefully consider potential sources of bias in their study design and analysis. Additionally, peer review and replication of findings can help to identify and address any biases that may be present in a study. By taking these precautions, researchers can increase the validity and reliability of their findings and contribute to a more robust and accurate body of scientific knowledge.

Difficulty in generating original ideas

it is important to note that ChatGPT responses are generated based on patterns and correlations in the data it has been trained on and may not always produce entirely novel or groundbreaking ideas. Additionally, as an AI language model, ChatGPT does not have personal experiences or biases to draw upon, which can limit its ability to generate ideas that are truly unique and original. And, of course, the researcher has to evaluate the text critically and refine the ideas generated by the model.

Incorrect results

The results generated by ChatGPT can potentially be wrong or inaccurate. While ChatGPT has been trained on vast amounts of data and has the ability to generate responses that are often coherent and meaningful, it is still an artificial intelligence tool and is not perfect. In addition, there are several factors that can contribute to incorrect results, such as errors in the input data or incorrect interpretations of the input. Therefore, as with any research tool, it is important to use ChatGPT in conjunction with other sources of information and to verify the accuracy of its results through careful analysis and validation.

Hesitation of journals

The use of ChatGPT in scientific research and publication is a relatively new phenomenon, and scientific journals are still developing their policies and guidelines regarding its use. Some journals may be hesitant to accept papers that rely heavily on ChatGPT-generated content, while others may be more open to incorporating this technology into the research process. In general, scientific journals are likely to be interested in research that uses ChatGPT in a way that is innovative, rigorous, and transparent. This may involve clearly documenting the use of ChatGPT in the research process, providing information on the training data used to develop the model, and validating the results through independent analysis and peer review. As the use of ChatGPT and other AI tools in scientific research continues to grow, it is likely that scientific journals will continue to evolve their policies and guidelines to address the unique opportunities and challenges presented by these technologies.

Here also a word of caution, remember that now there are many online tools that can detect the use of ChatGPT or other AI tools in writing. Thus, if you do not declare that you used such tools, it may result in the rejection of your article.

Therefore, it is important for researchers to use this technology with caution and to be aware of its limitations. ChatGPT can generate ideas, provide insights, and even generate some portions of a manuscript. However, it is important for researchers to evaluate the results generated by the model critically and to ensure that the content generated by ChatGPT is appropriate and accurate for the given context. Researchers should also be aware of the potential for biases and errors in the model. They should take steps to mitigate these risks. Ultimately, the decision to use ChatGPT in manuscript writing should be based on careful consideration of its potential benefits and limitations and should be made in consultation with colleagues and other experts in the field.