Using ChatGPT as a Ph.D. Candidate 1: Lowering the barriers to writing

I always enjoy discovering and adapting new tools to my research and study process. I tried many AI tools specifically designed for academics but could not find one yet. I excelled enough in ChatGPT to facilitate my writing, data analysis, and research steps in my Ph.D. Here are a few areas I am using ChatGPT* as a Ph.D. Candidate:

1. Lowering the barriers to writing
2. Doing initial desktop research
3. Quick qualitative data analysis
4. Removing the barriers to complex quantitative analysis
5. Language / Grammar review

I am sure I am not the only student who stares blankly at the screen for minutes or hours, typing and deleting initial words. Especially if you are not doing a full-time Ph.D. and there is some time between each writing session, you may need help initiating writing. Here are a few ways to start writing quickly with a few basic prompts:

• I ask ChatGPT to create a structure if I start a new section or paper. For this, I generally give an overall topic and, if I know, the research methodology.

Prompt example: I am writing a research paper section to explain how different scaffolding strategies can support students’ project-based learning in high…