Research Support: How does AI support research?
Answer
AI Research Support
How conversational AIs can help you search, analyze, fact-check, cite, and write—faster and better.
Jump to a section
🔎 Literature Search
- Refine research questions and convert topics into precise search strings (keywords, synonyms, Boolean operators).
- Suggest subject headings, related terms, and database-specific operators.
- Outline starting points for new domains with quick topic overviews.
- Draft multiple alternative queries to broaden/narrow results.
Tip: Ask the AI: “Generate 3 broader and 3 narrower keyword variants for this topic.”
🧭 Learning & Exploring
- Explain complex theories, models, and methods at different levels (overview → advanced).
- Compare frameworks, summarize debates, and surface pros/cons.
- Provide examples, analogies, and step-by-step reasoning on request.
- Translate, define jargon, or restructure notes into study outlines.
Try: “Explain this method for a grad student in marketing analytics; include a simple example.”
📚 Finding Sources
- Suggest places to search: databases, journals, books, working papers, datasets, and grey literature.
- Identify open-access versions and relevant preprints when possible.
- Propose search strategies tailored to specific databases or disciplines.
- Create a short, categorized reading list to kickstart your review.
Note: Always verify bibliographic details in the original source or your library’s catalog.
🧾 Citation Support
- Format references from DOIs/URLs/bibliographic details in APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
- Generate in-text citations and reference-list entries consistently.
- Explain style differences; provide examples for unusual source types.
- Export draft citations and check against your manager (Zotero, EndNote).
Reminder: Validate every auto-formatted citation against the official style guide.
🧪 Fact-Checking & Bias Awareness
- Cross-verify claims with authoritative sources; flag non-peer-reviewed materials.
- Identify potential bias, missing context, or methodological limits.
- Ask for direct quotations with citations and links (when available).
- Request a “confidence rating” and rationale for sensitive or contested topics.
Prompt: “Provide 3 credible sources supporting/refuting this claim; explain disagreements.”
🔗 Following References
- Trace citation chains (backward to references; forward to works that cite them).
- Surface seminal papers, influential authors, and related schools of thought.
- Cluster readings by theme and suggest a logical reading order.
- Map connections among concepts to spot gaps and new angles.
Try: “List 5 key papers that cite this article and summarize how each extends it.”
🧠 Additional Capabilities
- Research design: refine hypotheses, variables, and scope; compare methods.
- Data & analysis: suggest tests, write starter code, interpret tables (double-check outputs).
- Writing & editing: outlines, section drafts, clarity edits, abstract/title options.
- Brainstorming: angles, keywords, frameworks, visuals, and presentation structures.
Prompt: “Draft an outline (IMRaD) for this topic; include 5 key sources to justify each section.”
⚖️ Responsible Use & Limits
- AI may produce errors or incomplete citations; verify everything important.
- Attribute clearly when AI contributes text or ideas per course/journal policies.
- Avoid sharing sensitive or restricted data; follow IRB and data-use rules.
- Use AI as a thinking partner—not a replacement for scholarly judgment.
Checklist: Verified facts • Cross-checked citations • Documented AI assistance • Followed ethics/policies
Attribution
Authored by ChatGPT (GPT-5 Thinking) via conversational prompting. Reviewed and formatted for this LibGuide by the editor.
Date generated: Sep 4, 2025 | Topic: Literature Search Capabilities
How to cite this section
APA (suggested): ChatGPT (GPT-5 Thinking). (2025, September 4). Literature search capabilities [AI-generated content]. University of Florida Libraries LibGuide.
Note: AI-generated content may contain errors. Verify key facts and adapt examples to local resources.