The Insight Corner Hub: Using AI Responsibly, Ethically, and Thoughtfully: A Step-by-Step Guide to Publishing Your Dissertation in a Peer-Reviewed Journal

Introduction

The rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT, GrammarlyGO, and SciSpace has reshaped academic writing and publishing. From editing and paraphrasing to summarizing and generating citations, these tools offer immense value, especially for early-career researchers and graduate students.

However, using AI in scholarly work comes with ethical responsibilities. If you’re preparing to publish your dissertation in a peer-reviewed journal, it’s essential to balance AI’s potential with academic integrity.

This article provides a step-by-step guide to using AI responsibly, ethically, and thoughtfully from manuscript preparation to journal submission.

Step 1: Understand What AI Can (and Can’t) Do in Academic Publishing

AI Can Help With	AI Should NOT Be Used For
Grammar correction and rephrasing	Fabricating results or data
Summarizing literature	Inventing citations or sources
Formatting or structuring content	Ghostwriting entire manuscripts
Generating charts or code (with verification)	Skipping peer or supervisor review

✅ Rule of Thumb: Use AI as a collaborative assistant, not as an author substitute.

Step 2: Prepare Your Dissertation for Journal Publishing

Before you even begin using AI, adapt your dissertation into a journal-ready manuscript. Key tasks include:

• Condense: Convert your thesis into a 5,000–8,000-word article
• Reformat: Follow the target journal’s author guidelines
• Focus: Select one core contribution or research question

AI Use Case:

Prompt: “Summarize this 100-page dissertation into a publishable abstract under 300 words in academic style.”

Step 3: Use AI Tools to Improve Language and Structure (Ethically)

AI can improve clarity and flow without altering meaning. Use it to:

• Fix grammar and academic tone (Grammarly, Writefull)
• Rephrase awkward sentences (ChatGPT)
• Suggest alternative headings or transitions

⚠️ Avoid plagiarism by reviewing and rewriting AI suggestions in your own voice.

Example Prompt:

“Rephrase this paragraph in formal academic language suitable for a public health journal.”

Step 4: Fact-Check and Verify All AI-Generated Content

Do NOT trust AI blindly. Most tools can hallucinate references, misinterpret statistics, or oversimplify nuanced ideas.

Always:

• Verify citations with Google Scholar or PubMed
• Check data and graphs for accuracy
• Compare AI-generated summaries with original texts

🔹 Tip: Use tools like Elicit.org or Consensus.app to pull real, peer-reviewed evidence.

Step 5: Acknowledge AI Use Transparently

Many journals now ask authors to disclose the use of AI tools during manuscript preparation.

📌 Add an AI acknowledgment statement:

“This manuscript was edited for grammar and clarity using ChatGPT. The authors verified all content and take full responsibility for the final manuscript.”

Check the journal’s policies — e.g., Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley all offer guidance on GenAI disclosures.

Step 6: Select a Suitable Journal

Use AI to help identify journals that match your topic, scope, and methodology.

Tool Example:

SciSpace Journal Finder, Elsevier Journal Finder, or ChatGPT prompt: “Suggest peer-reviewed journals that publish public health research on maternal care in low-income countries.”

📌 Key criteria to consider:

• Impact factor and audience
• Scope alignment
• Open access vs. subscription

Step 7: Finalize and Submit (With AI Quality Checks)

Use AI tools to cross-check:

• Title clarity and impact
• Abstract structure and keywords
• Compliance with submission guidelines

Prompt for final review:

“Check this manuscript for readability, clarity, and compliance with APA 7 citation format.”

Then submit your article through the journal’s portal (ScholarOne, Editorial Manager, etc.) and track your peer review process.

Summary: Responsible AI Use in Dissertation Publishing

Step	Purpose	Responsible AI Role
1. Understand limits	Set boundaries	Know what AI can/can’t do
2. Prepare manuscript	Condense focus	Use AI for summarizing
3. Edit ethically	Polish language	Human oversight is critical
4. Fact-check	Ensure accuracy	Never trust AI facts blindly
5. Disclose use	Stay transparent	Add AI usage in acknowledgments
6. Find a journal	Match your topic	Ask AI for journal suggestions
7. Submit	Follow guidelines	Let AI help with checklist review

Final Thoughts

AI is a powerful academic tool—but it’s your critical thinking, scholarly integrity, and subject knowledge that bring true value to research publishing. If used ethically and transparently, AI can help you publish your dissertation faster, better, and more professionally.

🎓 “The future scholar isn’t replaced by AI—but is amplified by it.”