Key points at a glance
- Verify that the publication exists independently of the AI tool.
- Read the full text and the passage relevant to your claim.
- Document the search and tool use as your programme requires.
Turn a suggestion into a verifiable trail
Treat author, title, year and DOI from an AI answer as clues, not established facts. Search a library catalogue, publisher page or trusted repository. If a DOI leads to a different paper, reject or correct the lead. A plausible-looking reference alone proves nothing.
Compare the claim with the original
Read the relevant passage and its limitations in the published work. Check whether the AI has turned correlation into causation or generalised from a narrow sample. For example, an article about students’ attitudes toward AI does not establish that AI improves their learning outcomes. Cite only what the source actually supports.
Assess coverage independently
An AI interface may miss key studies and often obscures selection boundaries. Add suitable subject databases, search terms and citation chasing, then record dates and criteria. A systematic review needs a reproducible search strategy, not merely a list suggested by one tool.
Disclose use and protect data
Follow your programme’s AI rules and describe use when required. Do not upload unpublished manuscripts or participant data without permission. Store verified original works in your reference manager and cite those works rather than an AI summary.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Found author, title and DOI independently.
- Read the relevant original passage.
- Recorded a broader search route.
- Checked AI and privacy rules.
Common mistakes
- Copying a fabricated DOI.
- Citing an AI summary in place of a paper.
- Treating a few AI hits as complete coverage.
Prepare the finished thesis for submission
Once the content and university requirements are checked, review your PDF and the available printing and binding options.
Review printing optionsRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
Can AI misrepresent a real source?
Yes. It may associate a real title or DOI with an inaccurate description.
Is a working DOI enough?
No. Confirm that it identifies the claimed work and that the work supports your statement.
Should I cite the AI tool?
Cite the original research for scholarly claims; disclose tool use according to your institution’s rules.