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The Research Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Think Critically and Do Your Due Diligence When Using AI.

Researching with AI

Can’t think of a topic to research? 

  • Scan your textbook for broad topic ideas.
  • Review your class discussions, notes, and readings.
  • Look through some of the library's LibGuides on the subject to find some possible topic ideas. 

OR

  • Ask ChatGPT or another AI.
    • What are some topics on U.S. History? Texas History? Fort Worth, Texas?
    • What social programs did the Black Panther Party implement during the Black Power Movement?
    • What information do you know about tuition cost and mental health of college students?
    • What are some topics on information overload?
    • What are some topics on Sports and Public Relations?
    • Tests:

You have a topic ideas, now you need a Research Question! 

  • Find Sources about your Research Topic
  • Do you know anything already about the topic you chose?
    • Example: Freedom Summer
      • Also known as the Mississippi Summer Project
      • Part of the Civil Rights Movement
      • Goal was to increase voter registration among African Americans in Mississippi
      • Included white activists
  • What do you not know?
    • Example: Freedom Summer
      • Who organized it?
      • What was the media like surrounding it?
      • What was opposition like? Violent?
      • Was their training for volunteers?
      • What types of initiatives were part of the Mississippi Summer Project?

These are questions you can ask ChatGPT in order to get more general information about your topic OR you can ask ChatGPT for a Research Question. The Research Question it provides is general, but can help as a starting point for you to find resources and narrow down your Research Topic, so you can develop your own Thesis.

How can ChatGPT help you find sources on your Research Topic?

You can also browse the library catalog, our LibGuides, Google, Youtube, Library of Congress, and other online sources. 

Limitations to ChatGPT

As with everything, there are limits to using AI, including ChatGPT:

  • Knowledge Updates: GPT 3.5's last knowledge update was September 2021, so if you are interested in the latest research on a subject it will have limited access to it and does not have access to real-time data. There are later editions to ChatGPT, but the require subscription fees. 
  • Library Catalog Information: As an AI language model, it does not have access real-time data, so it can't browse specific library catalogs for you. 
  • Regional or Local Information: If the subject you are researching is local, it may be too niche for ChatGPT to give you information, but it can provide you some general information on local libraries or historical societies in the area.
  • Monocultural, Lack of Diversity: AI uses language models to provide information. Language models based on English-based text with the potential of cultural biases. While those who train the ChatGPT model are expanding to across the globe, the model is still being aligned to the values of those human contractors training the AI. If the population creating and training the AI are homogenous, then you risk a lack of diverse thought in the AI's responses.
    "A lot of AI tools are driven by data, and data comes from society, which has its own built-in biases."

When in Doubt, Reach Out!

Name Title Office Email Phone
Risa Brown Reference Assistant Reference Desk rwbrown@txwes.edu 817-531-4802
June Johnson Reference & Instruction Librarian EJWL Rm 130  jujohnson@txwes.edu 817-531-4813
Gicel Martinez Reference Assistant Reference Desk gicelmartinez@txwes.edu 817-531-4802
Dennis Miles Reference & Instruction Librarian EJWL Rm 132 dbmiles@txwes.edu 817-531-4809

General Inquiries can be sent to reference@txwes.edu or by calling 817-531-4802

References

Klawe, Maria. “Why Diversity In AI Is So Important.” Forbes, July 20, 2020. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mariaklawe/2020/07/16/why-diversity-in-ai-is-so-important/?sh=4f7eaa9a7f2b.

Walker Rettberg, Jill. “ChatGPT Is Multilingual but Monocultural, and It’s Learning Your Values.” jill/txt, December 6, 2022. https://jilltxt.net/right-now-chatgpt-is-multilingual-but-monocultural-but-its-learning-your-values/.