Guide to Plagiarism, Research and Referencing

ETHICAL USE OF AI IN STUDY

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools offer significant benefits to students by providing personalized learning experiences, enhancing study efficiency, and facilitating academic success. However, it is crucial that the use of AI in study is conducted ethically and responsibly to ensure that you are still learning and your assessments accurately represent your knowledge and skill.

Definitions

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI refers to computer systems that simulate human intelligence, performing tasks such as learning, reasoning, and self-correction. In the context of this policy, AI tools include, but are not limited to, predictive text generators, chatbots, and automated research assistants.
  • AI Hallucination: AI hallucination occurs when an AI tool generates information that is false or nonsensical, presenting it as factual or relevant.

Understanding AI Tools

AI tools use predictive analysis to formulate responses. They lack awareness and may present responses with bias, fabricate data and references, or hallucinate, presenting information that is blatantly incorrect and without factual basis. When using AI for independent study, you should be aware of these limitations, be considerate with the information and prompts you input, and be critical of the information provided by the tool.

Permissible Uses of AI

The ethical use of AI is permissible for independent research and fact-checking by VNS students, where the AI-generated content is used to support learning and understanding.

Impermissible Uses of AI

It is not ethical for AI to be used to generate or revise answers to assessment questions that determine student competency. Assessment answers must be in your own words and must cite any sources, including AI, used to help present the answers.

The Use of AI Tools Must Be Compliant with the Following:

1. Transparency and Disclosure

Do:

  • Clearly disclose the use of AI tools and algorithms in online research and learning by providing appropriate references. Transparency in using AI tools helps maintain academic integrity and allows for fair evaluation of your knowledge and skills.

  • Include an explanatory acknowledgement statement at the start or end of your assessment. This should include the following:
    • AI system(s) and link
    • The task you asked AI to person
    • How many times you used it for each task
    • How you analysed and modified the content. 

I used AI in the following ways:

(i) To generate ideas or structure suggestions, for assistance with understanding core concepts, or other substantial foundational and preparatory activity for the assessment.

I used ChatGPT-4 (https://chat.openai.com) as a personal AI tutor to explain core concepts related to fluid therapy in veterinary nursing, including types of IV fluids and their appropriate use in dehydrated patients. This helped me better understand the physiological mechanisms behind fluid balance and how to apply this knowledge to my case study. I used the tool across three iterations to refine my understanding, asking follow-up questions based on my own research.

(ii) To generate text, rewrite, rephrase, and/or paraphrase a portion of this assessment.

I used ChatGPT-4 (https://chat.openai.com) to help refine the wording of my explanation of osmolarity and tonicity in fluid therapy (two iterations). I then rewrote the content in my own words, ensuring accuracy and adding references from my textbook and lecture notes.

(iii) To generate some other aspect of the submitted assessment.

I used ChatGPT-4 (https://chat.openai.com) to help summarize key points from journal articles related to fluid therapy in veterinary practice, allowing me to extract the most relevant information efficiently. However, I cross-checked all sources manually to ensure the accuracy of the summaries.

Do Not:

  • Conceal or misrepresent the involvement of AI in your learning. Failing to disclose the use of AI can mislead educators and compromise the authenticity of your work.

  • Ignore or overlook how AI influences your online studies and research skills. It's important to understand how AI impacts your learning so that you can critically evaluate its contributions.

2. Informed Consent

Do:

  • Ensure that the use of AI in your research and learning aligns with the VNS guidelines. Following the guidelines ensures that you are using AI in an approved manner, promoting fairness and consistency across the student body.

  • Ensure you understand how your information and data are used by AI tools before using them. Informed consent protects your privacy and ensures that you are aware of potential risks when using AI.

Do Not:

  • Force or coerce students into using AI tools without their understanding or consent. It's important to respect each student's comfort level and understanding of AI to maintain a supportive learning environment.

3. Data Privacy and Security

Do:

  • Ensure your personal information is kept secure when using AI platforms. Protecting your personal information is crucial to prevent identity theft or unauthorized access to your data.

Do Not:

  • Compromise the privacy or security of student data or VNS learning resources and assets collected through AI applications. Mishandling data can lead to breaches of confidentiality and potential misuse of sensitive information.

  • Share sensitive information with AI platforms without ensuring its security. Sharing sensitive information without caution can expose you and others to risks of data leaks or misuse.

4. Bias and Fairness

Do:

  • Regularly assess AI algorithms for biases and strive to mitigate any unfair outcomes. Being vigilant about AI biases helps ensure that the technology does not reinforce discrimination or inequality.

Do Not:

  • Allow AI systems to perpetuate discrimination or inequality based on factors such as race, gender, or socioeconomic status. Allowing biased AI outputs can create unfair learning environments and reinforce harmful stereotypes.

  • Fail to report biases or unfair outcomes in AI tools through their reporting capabilities. Reporting issues helps improve the AI tools and fosters an inclusive and fair academic setting.

5. Critical Thinking and Human Oversight

Do:

  • When using AI-powered writing assistants, critically evaluate their suggestions and incorporate the ideas into your work with proper citation. Engaging in critical thinking ensures that you retain control over your learning and accurately reflect your understanding.

Do Not:

  • Blindly rely on AI suggestions without human oversight and critical analysis. Overreliance on AI can hinder your learning and lead to erroneous or misleading outcomes.

  • Accept AI-generated answers without question or scrutiny, especially if they seem biased or inaccurate. It's important to validate AI outputs to avoid incorporating false or biased information into your work.

6. Attribution and Academic Integrity

Do:

  • Properly attribute AI-generated content or assistance in academic work. Giving credit where it's due maintains academic honesty and acknowledges the contribution of AI tools to your work.

Do Not:

  • Plagiarize or claim credit for work produced by AI tools without acknowledgment. Misrepresenting AI-generated content as your own undermines academic integrity.

  • Copy assessment questions into AI tools and ask for an answer. This undermines the learning process and the assessment’s purpose.

  • Submit AI-generated content as your own without acknowledgment or attribution. This compromises the authenticity of your work and breaches academic standards.

  • Claim credit for work produced by AI tools without acknowledging their contribution. Acknowledging AI-generated contributions maintains transparency and academic honesty.

7. Continuous Improvement and Accountability

Do:

  • Regularly assess the effectiveness and ethical implications of AI tools used in online education. Continually evaluating AI tools helps ensure they align with ethical standards and support student learning effectively.

  • Provide feedback to the tools to remove bias, discrimination, non-factual data, and hallucinations. Feedback helps improve AI tools and ensures they function accurately and fairly.

Do Not:

  • Neglect the responsibility to address and rectify any ethical concerns or shortcomings in AI systems. Addressing issues is vital to maintain the integrity and fairness of AI-assisted learning.

  • Passively accept AI-generated outcomes without providing feedback or challenging biases. Active engagement with AI tools ensures they serve your learning needs accurately and ethically.

Citing AI Tools in Academic Work - Harvard

When using AI to help formulate your answers or perform research, it is crucial to correctly attribute the AI's contributions to maintain academic integrity.

In-Text Citations:

Format: (Author, Year)

Example for ChatGPT: (OpenAI, 2025)

Reference List:

Format: Author. Year. Title of response. Platform. Available at: URL to the shared chat (Accessed: Date).

Example: OpenAI. 2025. Explanation of veterinary nursing. ChatGPT. Available at: https://www.openai.com/chatgpt (Accessed: 7 March 2025).