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ChatGPT Quick Start Guide

Learn the basics. Ask better questions. Get better answers.
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ChatGPT in Research

Use ChatGPT to plan your approach, synthesize what you’ve read, draft from your notes, and study more effectively—then verify everything with your sources and databases.

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Plan

  • Brainstorm topics & refine research questions
  • Create search strings/keywords & inclusion criteria
  • Sketch an outline or project plan
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Synthesize

  • Summarize & compare sources you provide
  • Extract variables, findings, & limitations
  • Build evidence tables & concept maps
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Draft & Study

  • Turn annotated notes into paragraphs (with your citations)
  • Create figures/tables from quoted data
  • Generate study guides & flashcards

⚡ Fast Research Workflows

1) Question → Search Terms

“Refine this research question and create 8–10 keyword strings for scholarly databases. Include synonyms and field-specific terms.”

2) Source Triage

“From these 6 abstracts, make a table with columns: design, sample, measures, primary findings, limitations.”

3) Evidence Synthesis

“Build a 2×2 synthesis matrix (theory × method). Add 1–2 key insights per cell and note contradictions.”

4) Draft & Polish

“From the evidence table, draft a 150–200 word related-work paragraph for a grad-level paper; keep citations I supplied.”

📊Evidence Table Starter
“Create a table with columns: Citation, Design, Sample, Measures, Key Findings, Limitations. Populate only from the quotes I provide; do not invent data.”

🧪 Prompt Starters

Brainstorm & Refine
“Propose 5 focused research questions on [topic]; include 1 feasibility note each (data, scope, ethics).”
Literature Triage
“Summarize these abstracts in 2 sentences each and tag with 2–3 keywords. Then suggest what’s in/out for my review.”
Evidence Extraction
“From these quoted passages only, extract: variable, measure, effect direction/size (if reported), limitations.”
Synthesis / Compare
“Compare [A] vs [B] on definitions, measurement, key findings, and gaps. End with 2 testable hypotheses.”
Methods Explainer
“Explain [method/stat] for a first-year grad audience; add when to use, assumptions, and a 3-step checklist.”
Draft from Notes
“Using my annotated notes (quotes below), draft a coherent paragraph with transitions; keep citations verbatim.”
🔗Pair with Library Databases
  • Search UF databases; export abstracts or key quotes (with citations/DOIs).
  • Paste excerpts into ChatGPT for triage, extraction, and synthesis tables.
  • Verify all facts in the source PDFs and record page numbers.

📚 Explore more strategies in the Conversational AI Knowledge Base.

Entry authored by ChatGPT — reviewed for accuracy.