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Boxer Library

Artificial Intelligence Tools for Teaching, Writing & Research

Not all AI tools have the same purpose or functionality. Some AI tools are appropriate for one part of the research process, but may not be for another. Below are parts of the research process and what AI tools you might be able to use at each stage.

Search Strategy

Large Language Models (LLMs) can help with things like:

  • Brainstorming search terms
  • Creating advanced search strings

Remember that LLMs are not search engines, but rather they generate brand new text based off of large datasets. 

Example prompts:

  • I am a medical student and need a list of database search terms to find journal articles on the COVID-19 vaccine and immunocompromised people.
  • What are all the possible search terms for acetaminophen?
  • Create a PubMed search strategy for acetaminophen and liver toxicity that includes title/abstract field codes and Mesh terms.

Double check to make sure that the Mesh terms are correct. LLMs have been known to include incorrect Mesh terms, however they are improving. 

Finding Literature

There are research tools that are meant to help researchers find and synthesis literature on their topic. These tools primarily search sets of research literature and return relevant results to the user. These tools can help with things like:

  • Finding relevant literature
  • Pulling useful pieces of information from literature (data extraction)
  • Building "maps" of the literature so you can see how the body of research has changed over time and possible gaps/strengths