How to Research and Write Using Generative AI Tools?

• Blockchain Council
• September 17, 2024

Generative AI models like ChatGPT are great resources for research and writing. These tools help you find information, create summaries, and refine your content. To achieve optimal outcomes, it’s crucial to understand how to use them responsibly and efficiently. If you undergo advanced training, such as the Certified Generative AI Expert™ program, you will find yourself able to get the most out of the following steps. 

Steps for Research and Writing Using Generative AI Tools

The steps below guide you on how to research and write with ChatGPT. These steps also apply to other AI models like Gemini, Perplexity, or similar tools.

Step 1: Outline Your Topic and Formulate Research Questions

Begin by defining your topic in a clear manner. For this example, let’s use “The Role of Virtual Reality in Enhancing Skill Development in Healthcare.”

Next, use ChatGPT to brainstorm research questions. You might ask:

• “How does virtual reality training offer advantages over traditional methods in healthcare?”
• “How does virtual reality improve skill retention among healthcare professionals?”
• “What challenges hinder the adoption of virtual reality in medical training?”

ChatGPT will suggest questions based on your topic. This helps refine your focus. If the responses are too broad, adjust your prompts to narrow down the information you need. Those with certifications like the Certified ChatGPT Expert often find this step smoother, as they become pro at using models like ChatGPT.

Step 2: Gather Background Information

Once you have your questions, use ChatGPT to gather background information. For instance, ask, “Provide a summary of recent studies on virtual reality in medical training.” This prompt gives a broad understanding of the existing research. 

However, always verify the AI’s output with reliable sources like academic journals. Cross-check the information with trusted academic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, or your library resources. Remember, only ChatGPT-4 and 4o can search the web in real time. Similarly, for other generative AI tools, you might need to subscribe for its premium version to use real-time browsing abilities.

Step 3: Create an Outline

With your research questions and background knowledge, ask ChatGPT to help create an outline. Use a prompt like “Create an outline for a research paper on the role of virtual reality in healthcare training.” The AI might suggest the following structure:

• Introduction
• Background of Virtual Reality in Healthcare
• Significance of VR-Based Training
• Research Objectives
• Literature Review
  • Overview of existing studies
  • Comparisons of VR and traditional methods
  • Gaps in current research
• Methodology
  • Proposed methods for evaluating VR effectiveness
  • Data collection techniques
• Discussion and Analysis
  • Analysis of VR benefits and limitations
  • Future implications
• Conclusion
  • Summary of findings
  • Recommendations

Use this outline as a base. Adjust the question to suit your needs and make sure it addresses all aspects of your research questions comprehensively.

Step 4: Write Each Section Using ChatGPT

Start writing each section with ChatGPT. For the introduction, you might prompt the AI with “Draft an introduction discussing the importance of virtual reality in healthcare training.” Use the adjusted text as a foundation to build upon. Review it and adjust the content to fit your voice and set the right tone.

For the literature review, ChatGPT can summarize relevant studies. However, since the AI may not have access to the latest academic papers, always verify these summaries against updated sources. This approach ensures your review remains accurate and complete.

Review the AI’s suggestions to ensure they are aligned with your research questions. Don’t copy the AI text directly. Instead, paraphrase and integrate these insights into your words to maintain academic integrity. Use ChatGPT to clarify complex points, but ensure the content fits logically within your narrative.

Step 5: Develop the Methodology

ChatGPT can help brainstorm the methodology for your research. If you’re planning a study, you can ask, “Suggest a methodology to compare VR training with traditional methods in healthcare.” The AI might suggest approaches like controlled trials, surveys, or performance assessments. Adjust these suggestions to fit your research design, ensuring the methodology stays rigorous and tailored to your study’s goals.

Step 6: Analyze Findings and Write the Discussion

Use ChatGPT to help frame your analysis. You could prompt, “How does virtual reality enhance cognitive and skill development in healthcare?” ChatGPT will outline key points that you can expand on. As you write, integrate your data and insights. Make sure to critically evaluate the AI’s suggestions to align them with your research findings.

Step 7: Edit and Verify Content for Originality

After drafting each section, edit thoroughly to match the AI-generated text with your voice. Always check for plagiarism, as ChatGPT outputs are not guaranteed to be unique. You can use platforms such as Turnitin and Grammarly to check the uniqueness of your work. These tools are designed to assist in ensuring that your content remains original. This ensures that your work meets academic standards.

Step 8: Complete Your Work and Properly Cite Sources

Ensure that every source you used during your research is cited accurately.  ChatGPT can guide you on types of sources, but you need to find reliable references and cite them according to the relevant style guide (e.g., APA, MLA). Proper citation is important to uphold the integrity of your work and prevent any academic misconduct. When possible, get feedback from your peers or mentors to improve your work.

Conclusion

Using generative AI tools for research and writing can improve the efficiency of the process. These tools offer fast access to information and help with drafting. However, AI tools are designed to assist you and should not be used as a substitute for in-depth research and thoughtful analysis. Always verify, refine, and add your insights to make sure your work is reliable and authentic.