LLMs as Research Tools: A Large Scale Survey of Researchers' Usage and Perceptions

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Liao, Zhehui, Antoniak, Maria, Cheong, Inyoung, Cheng, Evie Yu-Yen, Lee, Ai-Heng, Lo, Kyle, Chang, Joseph Chee, Zhang, Amy X.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Liao, Zhehui
Antoniak, Maria
Cheong, Inyoung
Cheng, Evie Yu-Yen
Lee, Ai-Heng
Lo, Kyle
Chang, Joseph Chee
Zhang, Amy X.
author_facet Liao, Zhehui
Antoniak, Maria
Cheong, Inyoung
Cheng, Evie Yu-Yen
Lee, Ai-Heng
Lo, Kyle
Chang, Joseph Chee
Zhang, Amy X.
contents The rise of large language models (LLMs) has led many researchers to consider their usage for scientific work. Some have found benefits using LLMs to augment or automate aspects of their research pipeline, while others have urged caution due to risks and ethical concerns. Yet little work has sought to quantify and characterize how researchers use LLMs and why. We present the first large-scale survey of 816 verified research article authors to understand how the research community leverages and perceives LLMs as research tools. We examine participants' self-reported LLM usage, finding that 81% of researchers have already incorporated LLMs into different aspects of their research workflow. We also find that traditionally disadvantaged groups in academia (non-White, junior, and non-native English speaking researchers) report higher LLM usage and perceived benefits, suggesting potential for improved research equity. However, women, non-binary, and senior researchers have greater ethical concerns, potentially hindering adoption.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_05025
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle LLMs as Research Tools: A Large Scale Survey of Researchers' Usage and Perceptions
Liao, Zhehui
Antoniak, Maria
Cheong, Inyoung
Cheng, Evie Yu-Yen
Lee, Ai-Heng
Lo, Kyle
Chang, Joseph Chee
Zhang, Amy X.
Computation and Language
Artificial Intelligence
Computers and Society
Digital Libraries
Human-Computer Interaction
The rise of large language models (LLMs) has led many researchers to consider their usage for scientific work. Some have found benefits using LLMs to augment or automate aspects of their research pipeline, while others have urged caution due to risks and ethical concerns. Yet little work has sought to quantify and characterize how researchers use LLMs and why. We present the first large-scale survey of 816 verified research article authors to understand how the research community leverages and perceives LLMs as research tools. We examine participants' self-reported LLM usage, finding that 81% of researchers have already incorporated LLMs into different aspects of their research workflow. We also find that traditionally disadvantaged groups in academia (non-White, junior, and non-native English speaking researchers) report higher LLM usage and perceived benefits, suggesting potential for improved research equity. However, women, non-binary, and senior researchers have greater ethical concerns, potentially hindering adoption.
title LLMs as Research Tools: A Large Scale Survey of Researchers' Usage and Perceptions
topic Computation and Language
Artificial Intelligence
Computers and Society
Digital Libraries
Human-Computer Interaction
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.05025