Important: Always check with your supervisor before using AI tools! Ask if (and how!) you can use them and how you should cite AI-generated content in your paper.
Transparency is key when using AI tools in your studies. This means you need to clearly document in your papers which sections you used AI tools for and how.
You can best document the use of AI tools and AI-generated content in your work by using a combination of these methods:
- Describe in the relevant section of your work which AI tools you used and what you used them for (e.g., in the literature review or methodology section).
- List the AI tools used in a directory at the end of your work (e.g., Catalog of Tools).
- Cite AI-generated content in your work.
How do I cite AI-generated content?
Different citation styles offer suggestions for citing AI-generated content. Below, we share the recommendations of the APA, Chicago, and MLA citation styles. Practical examples show what such citations can look like in an academic paper.
Citations in your bibliography
When citing AI-generated content in a paper, it's important to include the AI tool in the bibliography. According to APA guidelines, citations of AI-generated content in your bibliography follow this structure:
Developers of the AI. (Year). Name of AI (version) [Large language model]. URL
For instance:
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT 4 (September 25 Version) [Large language Model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat/
In-text references
Direct quotes of AI-generated content in your text can be indicated as follows:
(Developers of the AI, year).
For example:
In response to the question ”What factors influence people when they buy sustainable fashion? Please give me 5 key insights from research.” the text generated by ChatGPT pointed out that "Consumers who are ore aware of environmental issues and the impact of the fashion industry on the environment are more likely to purchase sustainable fashion" (OpenAI, 2023).
When paraphrasing AI-generated content in indirect quotes, it's helpful to reference a transcript of your "conversation" with the AI tool. For example:
The text generated by ChatGPT pointed out that despite the assumption that sustainable fashion is popular with many consumers, price may often play a decisive role. Garments that are produced sustainably usually cost more than those produced conventionally (OpenAI, 2024; see Appendix A for the full transcript). A study by Rothenberg and Matthews (2017, p. 413) found that ”the probability of a respondent choosing to purchase the $15 T-shirt over the $25 T-shirt is 0.66”.
Recommended reading:
Citations in your bibliography
According to the Chicago Manual of Style, citations of AI-generated content in your bibliography should follow this format:
Name of the AI tool. Response to "Prompt“. Developers of the AI. Date. URL (shareable link or general URL of the tool).
Here's an example of such a citation:
ChatGPT 4. Response to "What factors influence people when they buy sustainable fashion? Please give me 5 key insights from research". OpenAI. January 17, 2024. https://chat.openai.com/share/dccf2904-6c03-412f-bd2b-4a38fca9ef49.
References in footnotes
In footnotes, use the same citation format as in the bibliography. If the prompt is mentioned in your text, there's no need to repeat it in the footnote. Here's an example, of what that might look like in your paper:
The following list was created with ChatGPT2:
1. Perceived Quality and Durability:
Sustainable fashion is often associated with higher quality and durability. Consumers believe that sustainably made clothes last longer and thus provide more value over time, despite often having a higher initial cost. This perception of quality and longevity can be a significant motivator for consumers to choose sustainable options.
2. Brand Transparency and Trust:
Consumers are more likely to buy from brands that are transparent about their supply chain, labor practices, and environmental policies. Trust is a crucial factor, and brands that can effectively communicate their commitment to sustainability and ethical practices can gain a loyal customer base.
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2ChatGPT 4. Response to "What factors influence people when they buy sustainable fashion? Please give me 5 key insights from research". OpenAI. January 17, 2024. https://chat.openai.com/share/dccf2904-6c03-412f-bd2b-4a38fca9ef49.
In-text references
When using in-text references in your paper (author-date style), make sure to include the following information either in the text or within parentheses:
Name of the AI tool, prompt used, date
For example:
These are two suggestions for factors that influence people when they buy sustainable clothing (OpenAI's ChatGPT, response to "What factors influence people when they buy sustainable fashion? Please give me 5 key insights from research", (January 17, 2024):
1. Perceived Quality and Durability:
Sustainable fashion is often associated with higher quality and durability. Consumers believe that sustainably made clothes last longer and thus provide more value over time, despite often having a higher initial cost. This perception of quality and longevity can be a significant motivator for consumers to choose sustainable options.
2. Brand Transparency and Trust:
Consumers are more likely to buy from brands that are transparent about their supply chain, labor practices, and environmental policies. Trust is a crucial factor, and brands that can effectively communicate their commitment to sustainability and ethical practices can gain a loyal customer base.
Recommended reading:
Citations in your bibliography
According to MLA guidelines, you should use the following format when citing AI-generated content in your bibliography:
”Description of content created with AI tool“ prompt. Name of AI tool, version of the AI tool, developers of the AI tool, date, URL.
For example:
”What factors influence people when they buy sustainable fashion? Please give me 5 important findings from research" prompt. ChatGPT 4, January 10 Version, OpenAI, January 17, 2024, https://chat.openai.com/share/dccf2904-6c03-412f-bd2b-4a38fca9ef49.
In-text references
When referencing AI-generated content in your paper, it's essential to include citations in the text. If you haven't mentioned the original prompt in the text, you can provide a shortened version of it in parentheses. According to MLA guidelines, a direct quote in your paper could look like this:
In response to the question "What factors influence people when they buy sustainable fashion? Please give me 5 key insights from research" the text generated by ChatGPT pointed out that "Consumers who are more aware of environmental issues and the impact of the fashion industry on the environment are more likely to purchase sustainable fashion." (OpenAI, 2024).
For an indirect quote of AI-generated content, MLA suggests the following format:
Despite the assumption that sustainable fashion is popular with many consumers, price may often play a decisive role. Garments that are produced sustainably usually cost more than those produced conventionally ("What factors influence people when they buy sustainable fashion? Please give me 5 important findings from research"). A study by Rothenberg and Matthews (2017, p. 413) found that ”the probability of a respondent choosing to purchase the $15 T-shirt over the $25 T-shirt is 0.66”.