Describing Your Use of ChatGPT in Your Paper
When incorporating text generated by ChatGPT into your research, it is essential to transparently describe your methodology. This can be done in the Method section or introduction of your paper, depending on the nature of your research. Specifically, mention how you used ChatGPT, provide the prompt you used, and include any relevant text generated in response.
However, it's crucial to note that ChatGPT's chat sessions are not retrievable by others, which poses a unique citation challenge. Unlike personal communications, where the source is a person, quoting ChatGPT's text is similar to sharing the output of an algorithm. In such cases, it is appropriate to credit the author of the algorithm (in this case, OpenAI) with a reference list entry and corresponding in-text citation.
Example:
When prompted with "Is the left brain right brain divide real or a metaphor?" the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that although the two brain hemispheres are somewhat specialized, "the notation that people can be characterized as 'left-brained' or 'right-brained' is considered to be an oversimplification and a popular myth" (OpenAI, 2023).
For longer ChatGPT responses, consider including the full text in an appendix or supplemental materials to provide readers with access to the exact content generated.
Creating a Reference for ChatGPT or Similar AI Models
To create a proper reference for ChatGPT or other AI models and software, follow the format below:
- Author: The author of the model is OpenAI.
- Date: Include the year of the version you used (e.g., 2023). Specific dates are not necessary.
- Title: The model name, "ChatGPT," serves as the title and should be italicized.
- Version: Include the version number, typically followed by the release date in parentheses.
- Source: Provide the URL that directly links to the source or model (e.g., https://chat.openai.com/chat). Do not repeat the publisher name when it is the same as the author.
Example:
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
When citing ChatGPT within your text, use the author-date format in parentheses, like so: (OpenAI, 2023). For narrative citations, you can write it as "OpenAI (2023)."
Adapted from: https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt