Entrytion
Research is one of the most important tasks in many areas: in science, journalism, education and project development. It is used to collect, evaluate and classify information.
Artificial intelligence (AI) can greatly simplify this process by analyzing large amounts of data, suggesting relevant sources and creating summaries. At the same time, the use of AI requires a responsible approach to ensure the quality and reliability of the information.
Basics
AI-supported search tools work with natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning techniques. They can understand texts, extract content and answer complex questions in a matter of seconds.
Nevertheless, the response quality is based heavily on the AI's training data and the formulation of the query (prompt). A critical check by a human is therefore always necessary.
Areas of application & possible uses
- Scientific work: Initial overview research on a topic or state of research.
- Project development: Collection of data and best practice examples.
- Journalistic contributions: Quick assessment of sources and trends.
- Funding applications: Finding a basis for argumentation and statistical data.
- Educational work: Preparation of background information for training courses or presentations.
Step-by-step procedure
Step 1: Define goal and topic
- What exactly should be researched?
- What kind of information is needed? (e.g. definitions, figures, studies)
Step 2: Formulate a request to the AI
A good prompt for research purposes should contain the following elements:
- Clear thematic focus: What question or problem is it about?
- Type of information requested: Should the AI only give a summary, provide figures or suggest sources?
- Temporal or geographical context: If relevant, e.g. "Publication in Germany since 2010".
Step 3: Check results
- Always check information against original sources.
- Check contents for completeness.
Step 4: Prepare information
- Put results into your own words.
- Correctly cite verified quotations and sources.
Step 5: Documentation and storage
- Save relevant, used sources.
- Save summaries and analyses in your own research documents.
Example from practice
Scenario
A non-profit organization would like to demonstrate the effectiveness of intercultural exchange meetings for a new funding application.
Prompt for an AI
"What empirical evidence is there that intercultural exchange meetings in German cities strengthen social participation and a sense of community? Please name specific studies or model projects from the last ten years."
Conclusion
AI can speed up research considerably and provide inspiring impetus. However, human review remains essential to avoid misinformation and bias. Combining the strengths of AI with critical review can make it an effective tool for any type of research.
Further links
| ChatGPT Plus | Quick idea generation, source search, fact checks - strong in structured web research. |
| Perplexity Pro | Answer engine with sources - excellent for quick, comprehensible research. |
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