Referencing Gen AI

Using GenAI Tools in your assessment

You should be critical when reviewing responses you receive to your prompts.  Remember: 

• AI doesn’t have access to all information and resources – the information base and training for each model is limited. 

• Information may sound right but could be wrong – some tools produce a convincing answer based on assumptions and algorithms.  These are often called AI hallucinations. 

• Output may not contain references or may be incorrectly referenced – tools will often give answers without referencing the resources they were based on, or will give false references. 

• Some language models are out of date and do not have access to the most current research. 

Output may vary, so use the CRAAP Test to evaluate the output: 

• Currency – is the information up to date? 

• Relevance – is the information relevant to your research? 

• Accuracy – is the information able to be verified? 

• Authority – what is the authority and knowledge of the author of the information? 

• Purpose – what is the purpose of the research or writing that the output is based on? – is there a bias or gaps? 

Todd (2023) suggests we should add an “E” for Ethics to the CRAAP Test when evaluating GenAI: 

• Ethics - what data does the tool collect about the user? How is this used? Is it protected? Does the tool attribute the sources/creators of the data it uses? Does the tool attribute the sources/creators of the data it uses?

Decide whether you will be quoting directly from GenAI output or paraphrasing the output – both should be acknowledged and quotes should be in quotation marks.

(Todd, V. (2023, March 1). Referencing generative AI and why students should take the CRAAP test: Advice from the Library. Teche, Macquarie University Learning and Teaching blog. https://teche.mq.edu.au/2023/03/suggested-strategies-for-referencing-generative-ai-and-why-your-students-should-take-the-craap-test-advice-from-the-library/)

Acknowledging the use of GenAI tools

If you have permission to use Gen AI in your assessment, you need to include a statement of where you have used GenAI and to what extent. 

To correctly acknowledge the use of GenAI you will need to include: 

• In text citations 

• Full references in a reference list 

• Details of how and when you have used GenAI 

• Details of your GenAI prompts and output 

• An acknowledgement statement – as set out by the University 

It is important to acknowledge all outputs from GenAI tools including outlines, quotes, paraphrases, images, data, etc.  You should also acknowledge the use of GenAI tools for brainstorming ideas and content, and for editing and proofreading. 

It is good practice to collect evidence of how you used Gen AI within your assessment.  Taking screenshots as you progress is also useful. For example: 

• Record your purpose for using GenAI and how you used it in your assessment. 

• Record the name of the GenAI tool and the version and date you used it. 

• Save the prompts you used to and any refinements you made. 

• Save copies of the output created. 

• Save copies of the entire transcript of the GenAI session. 

• Save copies of database search histories you used to verify information and references.

Where use of GenAI is permitted in a unit, acknowledge your use of AI according to the guidelines set by the unit convener.

(Sources: GenAI - Southern Cross University Libguide. https://libguides.scu.edu.au/genAI/referencing; Acknowledging and Referencing Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) use - Southern Cross University Quick Guide. https://www.scu.edu.au/media/scu-dep/current-students/learning-zone/quick-guides/Acknowledging-and-Referencing-GenAI-Use-Guide.pdf)

Referencing GenAI according to the UC Referencing Guide

Many styles have not defined the format for referencing GenAI output.  The University Library has used the style’s guidelines, if given, and used the format for nonrecoverable sources or personal communications, if no guidelines are given. 

For further details please see the UC Referencing Guide. 

Please select a style below.