Research Tutorial

AI can be a useful tool in the background-reading stage of a research project!

The possibilities of using AI to help launch your research are endless!

Here are just a few examples of ways to use AI, plus sample prompts. (The links take you to responses from ChatGPT; for tips on prompting AI, please see our library AI guide.)

• refine your research topic:
  • "How can I refine and focus the broad topic of Stone Age technology, for a college research paper?"
• define or clarify a concept or specialized vocabulary:
  • "Explain the Critical Path Method in the field of Project Management."
• identify top experts in a field:
  • "Name three of the top experts in positive psychology." 
• discover current trends:
  • "Name and briefly summarize three recent trends in the cybersecurity industry."
• get help thinking through a complex topic:
  • "Ask me questions to help me clarify my thinking about the morality of capital punishment."

Some AI tools that you might try are:

• Microsoft Copilot: an excellent AI that you can use for free by logging in with your UMGC username and password.
• While they are not connected with UMGC, ChatGPT and Google's Gemini are two very good AI sites where you can create a free account.

Whenever You Use AI, Think FAVA!

By adhering to the principles of FAVA (Follow Acknowledge Verify Add), you'll be a smart, ethical AI user!

• Follow your professor's instructions regarding AI.
  • Your professor may have specific instructions about using AI for classroom assignments.
  • Also, in your classroom syllabus, you'll find UMGC's helpful statement regarding students' use of AI.
• Acknowledge your use of AI.
  • In whichever way your professor prefers, whether it's writing a note describing how you used AI; or citing AI in APA, MLA, or Chicago style; or some other way, you should acknowledge your use of AI for a classroom project.
• Verify any and all information that AI gives you and that you plan to use in your project.
  • AI makes mistakes and makes up "information" that may sound authoritative but isn't factual.
  • You can verify AI responses by doing Google searches to look for trustworthy info that proves or disproves what AI wrote.
• Add your own ideas, as well as ideas and facts from your non-AI research. 
  • You would never generate a response from AI, copy and paste it into Word, and submit that as your assignment!
  • Instead, you use AI as part of your research and writing process, but the ultimate product that you turn in--your completed assignment--will represent your own work and thought and writing on the topic (with all sources that you used, including AI, duly acknowledged)!

For more information on AI and classwork, please see the library's Artificial Intelligence guide.