OPINION

JPPT | Invited Commentary

ChatGPT for Research and Publication:

A Step-by-Step Guide
Som S. Biswas, MD, MS, DNB, DMRD, MBA

J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2023;28(6):576–584

DOI: 10.5863/1551-6776-28.6.576

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Introduction erations, this guide will equip researchers with the
This commentary provides a concise step-by-step necessary knowledge to harness the full potential
guide on using ChatGPT, an advanced natural language of ChatGPT in their scientific pursuits. Moreover, this
processing (NLP) model, for research and publica- commentary will delve into the challenges associated
tion purposes. The guide assesses crucial aspects, with using ChatGPT for research and publication, in-
including data preprocessing, fine-tuning techniques, cluding biases, interpretability, and concerns regarding
prompt engineering, and ethical considerations. By ad- plagiarism. By addressing these challenges directly,
dressing challenges related to biases, interpretability, I aim to provide researchers with valuable insights and
and plagiarism, this commentary offers insights and recommendations to navigate these important issues
recommendations for the responsible and ethical use of and ensure the responsible and ethical use of ChatGPT
ChatGPT. The guide empowers researchers to ethically as a research tool.4
integrate ChatGPT effectively into their workflows, en- The significance of my guide lies in its potential
hancing productivity and improving the quality of their to bridge the gap between the rapid progress of
scientific publications. Through clear instructions and language models like ChatGPT and the research
guidelines, researchers can tap into the transformative and publication process. By elucidating the intrica-
potential of ChatGPT, driving scientific progress in a cies of integrating ChatGPT into scientific workflows,
language-driven world. researchers will be empowered to leverage this ad-
In recent years, the field of NLP has witnessed vanced technology effectively, thereby enhancing the
remarkable advancements, bringing us closer to the overall quality and impact of their research output.5
realm of humanlike language generation. Among In the following sections, I present a comprehensive
these advancements, ChatGPT, based on the ground- overview of the steps involved in using ChatGPT for
breaking GPT-3.5 architecture developed by OpenAI, research and publication.
stands as an impressive language model capable of
generating coherent and contextually relevant text Step 1: Title and Title Page Creation by
responses. With its ability to understand and respond ChatGPT
to user inputs, ChatGPT has opened up new possibili- ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in generating titles
ties for various applications, including research and for research papers. Its ability to understand and gener-
publication.1–3 ate humanlike text allows it to analyze and synthesize
The traditional process of conducting research and information provided by researchers to craft concise
publishing scientific papers has been significantly trans- and impactful titles. By leveraging its vast knowledge
formed by the emergence of ChatGPT. Researchers base and language capabilities, ChatGPT can assist in
and authors can now leverage the power of this so- capturing the essence of a research paper, conveying
phisticated language model to streamline and enhance the main focus and contributions succinctly. Research-
their workflow, leading to improved efficiency and ers can collaborate with ChatGPT by providing relevant
higher-quality publications. However, using ChatGPT information, such as the subject, objectives, method-
effectively in the research and publication domain re- ology, and key findings of their study. ChatGPT can
quires a comprehensive understanding of its capabili- then generate multiple title options, offering different
ties, limitations, and best practices. perspectives and angles that researchers can consider.
In this commentary I offer my thoughts for a step- This collaboration with ChatGPT can save time and
by-step guide for researchers and authors who seek stimulate creativity, helping researchers refine their
to harness the potential of ChatGPT in their research titles to accurately represent their work and engage
endeavors and publication efforts. By exploring vari- potential readers. ChatGPT can then be used to create
ous aspects, such as data preprocessing, fine-tuning the entire title page and then can also customize based
techniques, prompt engineering, and ethical consid- on each journal’s recommendations.

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Biswas, S et al ChatGPT: Guide for Researchers

For example:

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Thus, we see that ChatGPT can write an entire title is incorrect and needs manual rectification. However,
page based on just the title and author details. We the rest of the title page, including keywords and the
notice that ChatGPT has created an email address that running title, is appropriate.

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ChatGPT: Guide for Researchers Biswas, S et al

Step 2: Abstract/Summary time and effort in crafting abstracts while ensuring that
Creation by chatGPT the key aspects of their study are accurately represented.
ChatGPT can assist in condensing complex informa- In this example, we demonstrate that ChatGPT can cre-
tion into a clear and engaging abstract/summary, helping ate an entire abstract just by using the title alone. However,
researchers communicate the significance and novelty the more information researchers provide (preferably the
of their research to a wider audience. By leveraging the entire body of the paper should be entered into chatGPT),
language proficiency of ChatGPT, researchers can save the more accurate the abstract becomes.

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Biswas, S et al ChatGPT: Guide for Researchers

Step 3: Introduction Creation by ChatGPT abbreviations list from the article by using prompts.
By collaborating with ChatGPT, researchers can However, it is important to note that the generated
provide key information, such as the background, sig- introduction should be reviewed, customized, and
nificance, and objectives of their study. ChatGPT can refined by the researchers to align with their specific
then generate a well-structured introduction that sets study and writing style.
the context, highlights the relevance of the research, In the example below, we note that ChatGPT has not
and outlines the paper’s objectives. Also, ChatGPT only created an introduction but also the objectives of
can be used to generate keywords and generate an the study, which can then be edited by the human author.

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ChatGPT: Guide for Researchers Biswas, S et al

Step 4: Can ChatGPT Create a Literature ally, a literature review typically requires a comprehensive
Review? analysis of multiple sources, so the generated response
Yes, ChatGPT can help generate a literature review, may not cover all relevant studies. Nonetheless, it can
but it is important to note that it may not have access to assist in providing a basic literature review on a given
the most up-to-date research articles and studies due to topic, which will need human authors to add to and edit it.
copyrights and limited access to some journals. Addition- For example:

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Biswas, S et al ChatGPT: Guide for Researchers

As we can see, ChatGPT is not as good at giving Step 5: Can ChatGPT Assist in
a detailed review of the literature as it is at sum- Brainstorming the Methodology
marizing contents or creating an introduction. Thus, of Studies?
its use is limited, if there is any at all, in this section
ChatGPT can be a helpful tool in conceptualizing
of the paper.
the methodology for research papers. By engaging

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ChatGPT: Guide for Researchers Biswas, S et al

in a conversation with ChatGPT, researchers can references are entered into ChatGPT and it is asked
discuss their research objectives, study design, data to convert them into a specific style.
collection methods, and data analysis techniques.
ChatGPT’s natural language understanding allows Disadvantages of Using ChatGPT
it to provide suggestions and insights based on its in Research
knowledge base and understanding of research Although ChatGPT offers numerous advantages for
methodologies. Although ChatGPT can assist in gen- assisting in the writing of research papers, there are also
erating ideas and providing guidance, it is important some important potential disadvantages to consider:
for researchers to critically evaluate and adapt the 1. Lack of domain expertise: ChatGPT is a general-
suggestions to align with their specific research goals purpose language model trained on a diverse

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and requirements. range of Internet text, which means it may lack
Although the methodology is something that is the specific domain expertise required for certain
unique to each paper and needs a human researcher research topics. It may generate responses that
to conceptualize it, we see in this example that Chat- are not accurate or well informed in specialized
GPT can assist by giving ideas and examples based fields, potentially leading to incorrect or mislead-
on the input of the title by the human researcher. Thus, ing information in research papers.
ChatGPT can be part of brainstorming sessions when 2. Inconsistency and variability: ChatGPT’s re-
conceptualizing a study, although this section needs sponses can be inconsistent and vary depending
significant editing by a human, unlike the introduction on the input phrasing or prompt formulation. This
or summary. can lead to unpredictability in generating reliable
and coherent content, requiring additional effort
Step 6: Do Not Use ChatGPT for to refine and ensure accuracy in research papers.
Fabricating Patient Data or Results! 3. Limited control over output: Although research-
This section of the paper must be authentic, and ers can guide the model’s responses through
ChatGPT has a limited role, if any, because patient prompts, ChatGPT’s generation process is still
data have to be original. ChatGPT also currently cannot primarily autonomous. Researchers have limited
analyze clinical data compared with statistical software, control over the precise content and structure
like SPSS Statistics and Base SAS. However, Microsoft of the generated text, which may require careful
appears to be developing an Excel copilot that uses editing and review to align with specific research
AI to create graphs and plots, and its use needs to be goals, standards, and above all, accuracy.
evaluated once it is released to the public.6 4. Biases and ethical considerations: Language
models like ChatGPT can inadvertently reflect
Step 7: Discussion and Conclusions biases present in the training data. These biases
may perpetuate existing societal or cultural biases
This section of the paper can be generated by
in research papers, potentially leading to unfair or
ChatGPT if all results are pasted as input; however,
discriminatory content. The careful examination
this section also needs manual editing because inac-
and mitigation of biases are crucial to ensure
curacies are common. By discussing their research
ethical and unbiased research output.7
with ChatGPT, researchers can also identify potential
5. Lack of interpretability: ChatGPT’s decision-
limitations, discuss the broader implications of their
making process is complex and not easily inter-
findings, and propose future research directions. pretable. Researchers may struggle to understand
Although ChatGPT can generate suggestions and the reasoning behind the model’s generated
facilitate the thought process, it is important for responses, making it challenging to assess the
researchers to critically evaluate the information pro- reliability and credibility of the information provid-
vided and ensure that the Discussion and Conclusion ed. Ensuring transparency and interpretability in
sections align with the specific research objectives research papers becomes more challenging with
and findings of their study. Ultimately, ChatGPT can such models. ChatGPT should cite the sources for
serve as a supportive tool in developing a compre- its data, like Google Bard does.
hensive and well-rounded discussion and conclusion 6. Plagiarism concerns: Because of its vast training
for research papers. data from the Internet, ChatGPT may inadvertently
generate text that resembles or replicates exist-
Step 8: References ing content without proper citation or attribution.
As per the author's experience, although ChatGPT Researchers must be cautious about unintentional
is capable of creating references for an article, most plagiarism and ensure that generated content
of them are incorrect. So, using ChatGPT for creating is appropriately referenced and original. So, all
references is not recommended. However, ChatGPT ChatGPt-generated articles need to be double
can convert references into any journaling style if the checked using antiplagiarism software.

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Biswas, S et al ChatGPT: Guide for Researchers

Discussion Note
In this commentary I have provided a comprehen- • Please use ChatGPT only if allowed by your insti-
sive step-by-step guide for researchers and authors tution, research lab, and the journal in question.
on harnessing the power of ChatGPT in the realm of • Please acknowledge ChatGPT within your manu-
research and publication. By exploring crucial aspects, script/published paper wherever you are using it.
such as data preprocessing, fine-tuning techniques, • Please do not fabricate or plagiarize data. Chat-
prompt engineering, and ethical considerations, the GPT can be used only for summarizing texts,
guide equips researchers with the necessary knowl- improving English writeups, and brainstorming
edge and tools to effectively integrate ChatGPT into ideas, and not for creating fabricated research
their scientific workflows.8 raw data.

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Through clear instructions, examples, and guide-
lines, researchers can navigate the complexities of Article Information
using ChatGPT, leading to enhanced productivity and Affiliation. Department of Pediatric Radiology, Le Bonheur
improved quality in their research output. Moreover, Children’s Hospital, The University of Tennessee Health Sci-
I address the challenges associated with biases, ence Center, Memphis, TN.
interpretability, and plagiarism concerns, ensuring
the responsible and ethical usage of ChatGPT as a Correspondence. Som S. Biswas, MD; ssbinmemphis@
research tool. gmail.com
The significance of this research lies in its ability to
bridge the gap between the rapid advancements in Disclosure. The author declare no conflicts or financial inter-
language models like ChatGPT and the research and est in any product or service mentioned in the manuscript,
publication process. By empowering researchers with including grants, equipment, medications, employment, gifts,
the skills to leverage ChatGPT effectively, this guide and honoraria.
fosters innovation, drives scientific progress, and opens
Acknowledgment. The author acknowledges that this article
up new possibilities for transformative contributions to was partially generated by ChatGPT (powered by OpenAI’s
various fields.9 language model, GPT-3; http://openai.com). The editing was
As language-driven technologies continue to evolve, performed by the human author.
researchers must stay abreast of the latest advancements
and best practices. The step-by-step guide presented in Submitted. August 11, 2023
this commentary serves as a valuable resource, providing
researchers with the knowledge and guidance necessary Received. August 11, 2023
to maximize the potential of ChatGPT in their research
endeavors. By embracing the capabilities of ChatGPT Copyright. Pediatric Pharmacy Association. All rights reserved.
and ensuring its responsible and ethical use, researchers For permissions, email: [email protected]
can revolutionize the way research and publications are
conducted. With ChatGPT as a powerful tool in their arse- References
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