A Guide to AI Tools for Research

Dimensions Research GPT is a custom GPT integrated into the ChatGPT platform. It specifically leverages Dimensions' database of open-access scholarly publications to provide research-driven answers that include clickable references. 

Users of Dimensions Research GPT can get fast answers that are backed by sources they can trace. 

Access Dimensions Here!

The following are step-by-step instructions to accessing Dimensions GPT:

Step 1: Click "create a free account" and use your @mcmaster.ca email. You will be prompted to continue by registering your name, institution, job title and password.

Step 2: When your account has been created, and you've successfully logged in, go to the "apps" section where you will find Dimensions Research GPT.

This is what the interface looks like:

Before using any AI research tool, be aware of university policies and best practices:

• Follow University Guidelines
  • University AI Policy & Principles
    • Use AI responsibly, safely, and ethically. 
  • Guideline on the Use of Generative AI in Research
    • Critically evaluate and personally verify any outputs used in the research process.
  • The Academic Integrity Policy (Page 10) specifies:
    • It is considered as academic dishonesty to use generative artificial intelligence, entirely or in part, for submitted academic work without the explicit permission of the course instructor.
• Verify Information
  • AI-generated summaries are based on abstracts or limited datasets and may not reflect the full context. Always check original publications.
• Citing AI Use
  • If you use AI to discover resources, follow this Library Guide on Citing Generative AI. 
• Protecting your Data
  • Do not input personal, confidential or unpublished information into AI tools.
• Publishing Considerations
  • If you plan to publish your work, consult publisher policies on AI use to ensure compliance.

Major Features

• Open Access Publications: The GPT pulls answers from the Dimensions database of scholarly publications.
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• Clickable References: Every answer includes clickable links directing you to the source on Dimensions.
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The following is an example of what asking the GPT a question looks like:

Capabilities

• Operates within ChatGPT, which lets users pose natural-language research questions.
• Each answer includes clickable references, which helps users verify findings and delve deeper into source material
• Capable of condensing insights from research topics, making complex literature more manageable 

Limitations

• Summaries are generated from a limited set of articles and may not capture full detail.
• Results are limited to Dimensions content and do not include other databases.
• As with all AI tools, outputs should be verified against original sources.
• Users should avoid entering personal, confidential or unpublished information.