NTLSN · Crash Course · Research

AI-assisted research & writing — a crash course

Used well, AI accelerates research and writing; used blindly, it fabricates. Four short lessons on the difference, then a self-check.

The one thing to remember: AI is a brilliant thinking and drafting partner and a confident liar. Use it to accelerate — never to author unchecked, and never for the facts and citations.
4 lessons~10 min read1 self-checkGrounded in research-integrity & AI good practice

The lessons

1
Where it helps — and where it doesn'tAccelerate the thinking, not the facts
›

AI is strong at structure, summarising, brainstorming and editing; weak and risky at facts, references and primary analysis.

  • Use it to brainstorm, outline, summarise your own notes, and edit.
  • Don't trust it for facts, statistics or citations — verify all.
  • Keep your own judgement and voice at the centre.
2
Draft & edit with AIA sparring partner for your prose
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AI shines as an editor and challenger — tightening prose, spotting gaps, suggesting structure — on text you provide.

  • Give it your draft and ask for specific improvements.
  • Ask it to argue against your point, or find the weak link.
  • Rewrite in your voice; never submit its words as your own unexamined.
3
Integrity & disclosureYour work, your responsibility
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You are accountable for everything you submit. Most institutions, funders and journals now require disclosure of AI use.

  • Disclose how you used AI, per the relevant policy.
  • Don't list AI as an author; you remain responsible.
  • Check the specific rules for the journal, grant or assessment.
4
Verify sourcesHallucinated citations are real
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AI invents plausible-looking references. Every citation must be traced to a real, read source.

  • Find and read each source — don't cite what you haven't checked.
  • Use real databases and the NTLSN finders to locate work.
  • Treat any AI ‘reference’ as a lead to verify, not a citation.
Grounded in
  • Research-integrity & AI-disclosure guidance
  • Hallucination & verification practice
◇ Bring it together — from the NTLSN commons
Academic Integrity courseFind an open-access journalFind open-access copiesPrompting for Academics course

Before you use AI in your research or writing — a quick self-check

✓
I use AI for structure and editing, not for the facts.
✓
My own judgement and voice stay central.
✓
I disclose AI use per the relevant policy.
✓
I don't list AI as an author.
✓
I've traced and read every citation to a real source.
✓
I treat AI ‘references’ as leads to verify, not citations.
Source & attribution. Curated from research-integrity and AI good practice indexed by the NTLSN commons. NTLSN is independent of AI vendors. Your institution's, funder's and publisher's AI policies govern — this is practice guidance, not policy.
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