Tips for research - International Development - Guides de recherche

Doing Research in Social Sciences

Research is an iterative and creative process that allows you to answer a research question.

Doing research - Main steps

- Preparation of your search (Identifying the key concepts in your research question, finding your keywords, and using the search operators).

- Discovery of material (Explore platforms such as our library catalogue, databases, Google Scholar, etc.)

- Retrieval of material (Identify books, articles, reports, etc., and evaluate the quality of material found)

- Extraction of useful information (review of the literature)

- Analysis and citation of sources (Zotero)

For more details on the different steps of research in Social Sciences check the following guide:

Social Sciences - An Introduction to Library Research

What do you need to know before starting?

Some tips to get you started with the right foot

The following are key elements you need to reflect on before starting your searches for the material needed.

They will help you go in the right direction and save time.

Click on the links for more details.

Contact your librarian if you have further questions: mguzmang@uottawa.ca

- Understand that information evolves through time (Video) *

- Learn to choose your sources (Video)

- Identify the potential producers of the information needed (experts, governments, institutions, NGOs, IGOs, etc.)

- Not all that is published should be used for or cited in your research paper, evaluate the quality of your sources

- Not all publications are peer-reviewed

- You do not always need only peer-reviewed sources, sometimes you need books and government reports.

- Some sources are only useful for information/exploration/discovery, some sources can be cited in your paper, and some sources should not be used or cited.

- A sheet of paper is an irreplaceable heuristic tool! Use it before running your searches.

- See searching as a strategic exploration **

- Research is a very personal and creative process

*Burkhardt, J. M., MacDonald, M. C., & Rathemacher, A. J. (2010). Teaching information literacy: 50 standards-based exercises for college students (2nd ed). American Library Association.

**ACRL. (2015). Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL). http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework

What type of information do you need?

Background or introductory information - dictionaries or encyclopedias (* Your librarian recommends Oxford Bibliographies Online, among others)

General information or in-depth information - try books from the library catalog, you can limit the search to only books using the resource type menu.

News and current events – check the newspapers and current periodicals available through the Newspapers and News Sources research guide

Scholarly articles – For databases containing articles relevant to your topic, ask yourself « which discipline(s) would discuss my topic »? Go to the research guide for that discipline and look for a tab called « articles » - it will suggest databases that should contain articles relevant to that discipline, and thus to your topic. You can also find a specific journal using our library catalogue journal search tool.

Information and reports from government agencies and institutions – try the Government information research guide or Google

Statistics – try the research guide for statistics

Films and Videos – find the list of platforms available for videos, documentaries, and films in the Films and Videos research guide

Discipline-specific information – explore your research guide

If you have questions, please contact your librarian Majela Guzman : mguzmang@uottawa.ca

Generative AI Toolkit

Generative AI explained in 2 minutes (Video)
You've probably heard of ChatGPT, Midjourney, prompts and deepfakes. But what exactly is "generative AI"? That's what you'll learn in this explanatory video in two minutes!
What is generative AI and how does it work? (Video)
How are technologies like ChatGPT created? And what does the future hold for AI language models? This talk was filmed at the Royal Institution on 29th September 2023, in collaboration with The Alan Turing Institute.
Generative artificial intelligence (Government of Canada)
Generative AI: The Basics - Algonquin College
Very complete and brief guide for familiarizing yourself with the basis of GenAI. The guide was created by Algonquin College and offers a link to a Generative AI Crash Course.
What is an LLM (Large Language Model)? (Video)
Deep learning and large pools of data come together to form large language models, an AI-based algorithm. An LLM can generate text, translates languages, organizes content, and more, lending itself to AI chatbots like Bard and ChatGPT. At the same time, users should be aware of their shortcomings, such as bias, troubleshooting complexity, and the possibility of malicious attacks.
Why Large Language Models Hallucinate
Large language models (LLMs) like chatGPT can generate authoritative-sounding prose on many topics and domains, they are also prone to just "make stuff up". Literally plausible sounding nonsense! In this video, Martin Keen explains the different types of "LLMs hallucinations", why they happen, and ends with recommending steps that you, as a LLM user, can take to minimize their occurrence.
Generative vs Agentic AI
This video focuses on the difference between Generative AI and Agentic AI, explained using examples.

Before utilizing Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT for academic purposes, it is advisable to consult your professor, as different courses may have varying policies in place. Check here for more details.

How should I use artificial intelligence ethically in research?

Responsibility: Ensure that the AI system is designed and used in a manner that’s safe, transparent and accountable.
Fairness: Avoid creating or perpetuating biases and discrimination in AI systems and ensure equal treatment for all individuals.
Privacy: Protect the privacy of individuals and ensure that personal data is collected, stored and used securely and responsibly, according to uOttawa and Tri-Council policies on research with human subjects.
Transparency: Provide clear explanations of how AI systems work and make their decision-making processes transparent and understandable.
Attribution: Cite the use of AI and the manner that it has been used in the research.
Human control: Ensure that AI systems are designed to support, rather than replace, human decision-making and remain under human control.
Non-maleficence: Avoid causing harm through the use of AI and ensure that AI systems aren’t used to cause harm or engage in unethical behaviour.
Beneficence: Use AI to bring about positive outcomes and to benefit society as a whole.

(University of Ottawa, 2023)

Academic integrity for students - University of Ottawa (Scroll down for AI and Academic Integrity section)
Using ChatGPT for academic purposes
This infographic created by your librarian shows you the recommended and not recommended uses of generative AI tools.
ChatGPT and Artifical Intelligence in higher education (Report by UNESCO)
This Quick Start Guide provides an overview of how ChatGPT works and explains how it can be used in higher education. The Quick Start Guide raises some of the main challenges and ethical implications of AI in higher education and offers practical steps that higher education institutions can take.
Guidance for generative AI in education and research (Report by UNESCO)
The Guidance presents an assessment of potential risks GenAI could pose to core humanistic values that promote human agency, inclusion, equity, gender equality, and linguistic and cultural diversities, as well as plural opinions and expressions. It proposes key steps for governmental agencies to regulate the use of GenAI tools including mandating the protection of data privacy and considering an age limit for their use. It outlines requirements for GenAI providers to enable their ethical and effective use in education. The Guidance stresses the need for educational institutions to validate GenAI systems on their ethical and pedagogical appropriateness for education. It calls on the international community to reflect on their long-term implications for knowledge, teaching, learning and assessment.
How to cite ChatGPT - APA Style
If you’ve used ChatGPT or other AI tools in your research, describe how you used the tool in your Method section or in a comparable section of your paper. For literature reviews or other types of essays or response or reaction papers, you might describe how you used the tool in your introduction. In your text, provide the prompt you used and then any portion of the relevant text that was generated in response.
How do I cite generative AI in MLA style?
The MLA’s method for citing sources uses a template of core elements—standardized criteria that writers can use to evaluate sources and create works-cited-list entries based on that evaluation. That new technologies like ChatGPT emerge is a key reason why the MLA has adopted this approach to citation—to give writers flexibility to apply the style when they encounter new types of sources. In what follows, we offer recommendations for citing generative AI (...).

Empowering Scholars: Using Generative AI for Library Research (Video)
Health sciences librarians Hal Loewen and Mê-Linh Lê, from the University of Manitoba, as they introduce you to the world of genAI, while equipping you with the vital know-how to seamlessly integrate generative AI into your current research toolkit.
What is generative AI and how does it work? – The Turing Lectures with Mirella Lapata
How are technologies like ChatGPT created? And what does the future hold for AI language models?
This talk was filmed at the Royal Institution on 29th September 2023, in collaboration with The Alan Turing Institute.
Showcasing Free AI Tools with Nicola Pallitt
Learn about different Generative AI tools available for free.
Webinar Chat GPT and AI in Education
Watch this webinar to learn how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and chatbots can impact and enhance education.

Prompt Engineering Guide
The Prompt Engineering Guide is a project by DAIR.AI. It aims to educate researchers and practitioners about prompt engineering.
Practical AI for Instructors and Students Part 3: Prompting AI (Video)
In this video, Wharton Interactive's Faculty Director Ethan Mollick and Director of Pedagogy Lilach Mollick discuss how to effectively prompt AI like Midjourney, ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing, as well as how to take the lead, weaving your own expertise into the interaction.
ChatGPT Prompt Frameworks (Infographic)
Infographic created by Khizer Abbas.
Prompt Literacy in Academics - University of Michigan
To effectively utilize AI models, you should understand the capabilities and limitations of these models, and be able to write specific and detailed prompts. By building and refining these skills, you can effectively integrate AI into your work and education while mitigating many problems and frustrations that may arise.
How to Craft Prompts - Texas A&M University Libraries
Great tips with examples for crafting the best prompts.

Practical AI for Instructors and Students Part 1: Introduction to AI for Teachers and Students (Video)
In this introduction, Wharton Interactive's Faculty Director Ethan Mollick and Director of Pedagogy Lilach Mollick provide an overview of how large language models (LLMs) work and explain how this latest generation of models has impacted how we work and how we learn. They also discuss the different types of large language models referenced in their five-part crash course: OpenAI’s ChatGPT4, Microsoft’s Bing in Creative Mode, and Google’s Bard.
Practical AI for Instructors and Students Part 2: Large Language Models (LLMs) (Video)
In this video, Wharton Interactive's Faculty Director Ethan Mollick and Director of Pedagogy Lilach Mollick do a deep dive into a variety of large language models (LLMs) and discuss how to work effectively with each model – with examples, prompts, and guidelines.
Practical AI for Instructors and Students Part 3: Prompting AI (Video)
In this video, Wharton Interactive's Faculty Director Ethan Mollick and Director of Pedagogy Lilach Mollick discuss how to effectively prompt AI like Midjourney, ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing, as well as how to take the lead, weaving your own expertise into the interaction.
Generative AI Primer (Free Course by Vanderbilt University)
ChatGPT and other large language models are going to be more important in your life and business than your smartphone, if you use them right. ChatGPT can tutor your child in math, generate a meal plan and recipes, write software applications for your business, help you improve your personal cybersecurity, and that is just in the first hour that you use it. The course will give you a primer that covers what Generative AI is, basic prompt engineering, and how you can innovate with Generative AI. You will learn the ACHIEVE framework for using Generative AI to innovate in a way that augments and amplifies human creativity and problem solving rather than supplanting people. You will learn how Generative AI is going to replace the GUI and programming as our dominant interface to computing and why you will be using it every day at work.
GenAI for Everyone (Free Course)
You will be able to discuss the fundamentals of Generative AI or GenAI, some applications of GenAI in daily life, and the responsible use of GenAI.
Practical AI for Instructors and Students Part 3: Prompting AI
In this video, Wharton Interactive's Faculty Director Ethan Mollick and Director of Pedagogy Lilach Mollick discuss how to effectively prompt AI like Midjourney, ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing, as well as how to take the lead, weaving your own expertise into the interaction.

IMPORTANT: When doing research, ALWAYS use the library catalogue, the research databases relevant to your discipline, and academic sources. If you are using AI tools to get you started: ALWAYS verify the information using the library catalogue, databases, or academic sources.

Can ChatGPT Write Your Next Scientific Paper?
This video uses examples to show the limitations of ChatGPT when it comes to research. It also shows some tasks that can be successfully done using this tool. The limitations mentioned in the video are still relevant for ChatGPT 4 and 5.

Some Generative AI tools that you can use to start your research:

In the following list, you'll find the links to the platforms in their titles and a short video to learn more about how to use them for research.

- Microsoft Copilot: Access the functionalities of GPT4 and GPT5 for free. All members of our community have access to Microsoft Copilot in Enterprise Data Protection mode, which means their data is safeguarded. Prompts, responses, and user content are not stored outside our organization, and they are not used to train Microsoft’s models. This ensures a secure environment where users can benefit from Copilot’s AI capabilities while protecting privacy, confidentiality, and compliance with institutional policies - A Quick Guide to COPILOT

-Claude Sonnet 4: is now available for free on Claude.ai and the Claude iOS app.

-Semantic Scholar: An AI-powered research tool maintained by the Allen Institute for AI, providing access to scholarly literature and serving as the dataset behind many of the AI research tools in this list - Learn more about it with this video.

-Perplexity: An AI-powered research assistant that answers questions with cited sources, offering a Deep Research mode to explore and find literature on a topic - Brief Overview Video.

- Elicit: Elicit uses language models for extracting information from research papers and providing summaries. The results are not always accurate. - Short video to see how it works and another short video for understanding its limitations.

-Consensus: A search engine that uses AI to find insights in research papers - Short video on how it works.

-SciSpace Copilot: An AI-powered research assistant that helps you understand scientific literature by providing real-time summaries, explanations, and answers—whether you're reading in the browser or working with uploaded PDFs. Discover this tool with this short video. You can also learn about its Deep Review mode here (Deep Review mode requires payment after three free attempts.)

-Scite.ai Assistant: A research assistant for finding supporting evidence for your arguments in the scientific literature - Short video on how it works.

-Research Rabbit: Citation-based literature mapping tool - Short video on how it works.

Important Note: AI tools have limited access to academic literature and cannot provide a comprehensive view of a topic, since much research remains behind paywalls and inside licensed databases.

Even if tutorials or videos suggest they can support full literature reviews, this is not possible with AI tools alone in 2025.

Through the UOttawa Library, students and researchers have free access to 900+ curated scientific databases. Using the right combination of databases will always yield better and more reliable results than AI tools alone—remember, no single tool or database is exhaustive.

Research Skills Self-Assessment Tool

Research Skills Self-Assessment Tool
This Research Skills Self-Assessment Tool was created to help students and researchers go through the main steps of documentary research in Social Sciences and develop the skills required in the process. We added tips and suggestions that will help you go through the entire process and successfully answer your research question using the right methods and sources. This tool has been created by your librarian Majela Guzman. You can contact her anytime for questions : majelagg@uottawa.ca.