How to use Chat GPT to summarize academic journal articles

Introduction

In a recent discussion among colleagues, the subject of Chat GPT arose, particularly its utility in summarizing academic literature. This technique can be particularly beneficial for researchers who want to put together a literature review or support an argument without having read every article in detail. In this article, I will demonstrate how to effectively use Chat GPT to summarize academic journal articles by using two specific articles on harm reduction as examples.

Step-by-Step Process

To begin, I explored Google Scholar to identify two recent articles in the field of harm reduction. An initial article I found was titled "Harm Reduction and Rights-Based Approaches to Reduce Monkeypox Among Sex Workers," published in The Lancet; the second article focused on overdose issues among female drug users in Vancouver. Once I had both articles, I crafted a series of prompts for Chat GPT, which will serve as a guide in the summarization process.

Crafting Your Prompt

The initial request I made was to create a 500-word summary of the first article, including citations and a breakdown of three arguments and three counterarguments related to harm reduction. It’s important to phrase prompts clearly and directly, emphasizing specific requests such as citations or analytical comparisons.

After inputting the text from the article, I received a detailed summary, although it initially neglected to cite the authors. I quickly rectified that by asking Chat GPT to revise the summary including the requested citations.

Next, I followed the same procedure for the second article, which had a somewhat shorter text. Luckily, this time, it produced a summary with correct citations from the outset.

Comparing Summaries

Once I had summarized both articles, I asked Chat GPT to compare and contrast them, synthesizing the information into five key issues. The AI generated coherent paragraphs that discussed the similarities and differences between the articles, which revealed a focus on the importance of harm reduction and rights-based approaches to health in the context of sex work.

This iterative process of asking, summarizing, and comparing proved highly beneficial in exploring recent research on harm reduction, especially in Vancouver.

Outlining and Discussion Points

After synthesizing the summaries, I requested an outline for an academic paper using the arguments from both articles. Chat GPT provided a structured outline that included sections for the introduction, background, analysis, and references. I then refined the introduction further to include relevant statistics and regional issues pertaining to Vancouver's harm reduction strategies.

Furthermore, I asked Chat GPT for potential discussion points suitable for a university class, yielding several areas for exploration along with questions for debate. I also explored radical perspectives on harm reduction and discussed how these viewpoints could prompt further investigation in class discussions.

Presenting Information Visually

In concluding my exercise, I decided to ask Chat GPT to suggest the layout for a PowerPoint presentation, capitalizing on the summaries and outlines generated. By refining the prompt, I received a structured format for five slides that could serve as the basis for a classroom or conference presentation.

Through this experience, it became evident that Chat GPT serves as a capable assistant in academic research, particularly in summarization and synthesis of complex information.

Keywords

• Chat GPT
• Summarization
• Academic articles
• Harm reduction
• Literature review
• Rights-based approaches
• Overdose issues
• Vancouver
• Synthesis

FAQ

Q1: Can Chat GPT summarize any academic article?
A1: Yes, Chat GPT can summarize a wide range of academic articles. However, longer articles may need to be broken down into smaller sections for effective summarization.

Q2: How do I get the best results from Chat GPT?
A2: Craft clear and specific prompts, including instructions for citations and desired elements in the summary. Iteratively refine your questions to guide Chat GPT effectively.

Q3: Can Chat GPT compare multiple articles?
A3: Yes, Chat GPT can compare multiple articles by synthesizing the information presented in the summaries and highlighting key similarities and differences.

Q4: Is Chat GPT capable of creating outlines for academic papers?
A4: Yes, Chat GPT can generate structured outlines for academic papers based on the arguments derived from the articles summarized.

Q5: Can Chat GPT help in formulating discussion questions?
A5: Absolutely! You can inquire about possible discussion points or questions relevant to your topics, and Chat GPT will suggest meaningful prompts for class discussions.