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Referencing : Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your work

What is AI?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems and tools that can perform tasks that mimic human intelligence, such as writing text, generating images and videos, speech recognition and language translation. 

AI tools are increasingly being embedded within all the software packages we use, and you will be using AI tools in your education and in your future workplace. It is important that as you develop your digital skills, you know how to use these AI tools effectively and ethically, and without negatively impacting on your own knowledge, skills and understanding of the subjects you are studying.

Important: Do not submit any sensitive information, including personal or confidential information or data into AI tools. 

This page aims to guide you in:

  • how to use AI tools responsibly and ethically
  • understand the limitations of AI
  • how to acknowledge use of AI tools in your work
  • understand when it is inappropriate to use generative AI tools and avoid academic misconduct

Using AI tools such as ChatGPT and Bard in your work

If you are using AI tools in your academic work, please check this guidance on how to acknowledge and reference use of these tools.

  • Always check with your tutor if generated AI content is permitted in your work; it may vary between subject and module
  • AI tools should not be used to generate all or part of an assessment which you later submit as your own work. This would be an offence under the College's Academic Misconduct Policy (see link below). 
  • AI tools cannot be relied upon to produce accurate information, and can generate responses which contain incorrect, out-of-date or biased information, so it is important you critically evaluate any content produced by an AI tool
  • AI tools can produce fake references to books and articles, so always check the original source for accuracy before using them.

AI tools are changing rapidly. We recommend that you check this guidance frequently as our advice may change as these tools develop.

Using AI to find information

Advice to help you critically evaluate when and how to use responses generated by AI (Newcastle University, 2023).

Use and limitations of generative AI

Discover how AI may help your learning and gain a fuller understanding of the limitations (Newcastle University, 2023).

How to reference AI tools in your work

Referencing or citing AI output in your work

When you use or refer to information created by AI tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini, you must acknowledge this by citing it correctly.   As the information produced by these tools is only available to you, you should cite this as a personal communication.

Examples of in-text citation:

When asked for a definition of good academic practice, OpenAI’s ChatGPT (2023) response included the "ethical, independent, and honest completion of academic work". A copy of this response is included in Appendix 1.                         

OR

A definition of good academic practice is the "ethical, independent, and honest completion of academic work" (OpenAI ChatGPT, 2023). A copy of this response is included in Appendix 1.

 

Bibliography/ Reference list (Harvard style) 

The information you need to include for a reference:

  • Name of generative AI authoring tool
  • (Year)
  • 'Name of AI authoring tool' response to 'Name of person entering query'
  • Day, month content was generated

Example of bibliography or reference list:

OpenAI ChatGPT (2023) ChatGPT response to Sian Williams, 10 July.

Acknowledging your use of AI tools in your work

What to include in a declaration

When you have used AI in your assessment, you must include a declaration. This is a personal statement to acknowledge your use of AI tools in your work. The declaration usually follows your reference list and you should: 

  • name the AI tools you used
  • explain how you used the tools
  • list the prompts or questions you used
  • save screenshots of the answers you got

Where to place your declaration

Save a copy of the transcript of your questions and computer-generated responses, in a non-editable format, such as a screenshot. This should be submitted as an appendix at the end of your assignment, e.g.:

  • I used ChatGPT to create a structure for an essay. The outputs are included in the appendix. 
  • Prompts used with (AI name) : list prompts used
  • Output generated: Provide screenshots of output generated
  • The output was modified as follows: briefly explain the changes you made.

Declaration template

Use the heading  'Declaration' to clearly identify this statement for your teachers.

Declaration

I acknowledge the use of [AI tool or technology name] and [link] to generate.../ however the writing is my own and no content generated by AI has been presented as my own work.

Prompt: I entered the following prompt/s...

Use: I used the output to.../I modified the output to...

Include screenshots of the AI generated answers in your Appendix.

Example 1

Declaration

I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) to generate a summary of the essay topic for background research, however, the writing is my own and no content generated by AI has been presented as my own work.

Prompt 1: "Provide an outline for a 2000 word essay on the effects of climate change on coastal regions in Wales."

Use: I used the output as a starting point to plan my essay, and conducted my own research and reading on the suggested headings.

Prompt 2: "Identify alternative synonyms for climate change"

Prompt 3: "Build a search query using relevant keywords and Boolean operators"

Use: I used the output as my search strategy in library databases to identify suitable articles and academic sources of information.

Include screenshots of the AI generated answers in your Appendix.

 Example 2

Declaration 

I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) to generate topic ideas for a research project, however, the writing is my own and no content generated by AI has been presented as my own work.         

Prompt: "Brainstorm ideas around the topic of [example]."

Use: I used the output as a broad starting point for initial research ideas before narrowing down the title for my project.

Include screenshots of the AI generated answers in your Appendix.

Example 3

Declaration

I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) to generate research design ideas in suggesting the most effective research methodologies for studying [topic], however, the writing is my own and no content generated by AI has been presented as my own work.

Prompt: "What research methods would be most effective for studying [topic]?"

Use: I used the output as a starting point in my research design, and conducted my own research and reading on the suggested methodologies.

Include screenshots of the AI generated answers in your Appendix.

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