Ethical AI: Using AI for Your Research

How to Search for Sources:

1. Choose Your AI Tool: Select an AI tool.
2. Create a Prompt: Instead of just entering keywords, write a detailed prompt. For example, if you're researching poultry production, you might use a prompt like, "Find recent studies on the environmental impact of poultry production and its effects on local communities."
3. Review Results: Look through the search results provided by the AI tool. Pay attention to the source of each result to ensure it is credible and reliable.

Tips for Effective Searching:

• Be Specific in Your Prompt: The more detailed your prompt, the more relevant your results will be.
• Check Source Credibility: Make sure the sources are from reputable journals, institutions, or organizations.
• Use Filters: Many AI tools allow you to filter results by date, type of publication, and more. Use these filters to narrow down your search.

Evaluating AI-Generated Output:

1. Check for Coherence and Relevance: Ensure the AI-generated content logically flows and addresses the prompt or topic appropriately1.
2. Verify Facts: Cross-check any factual statements with credible sources to confirm their accuracy.
3. Identify Hallucinations: Be aware that AI can sometimes generate false or misleading information, known as hallucinations2. These are confident statements that are not true.
4. Spot Confabulations: AI may also produce confabulations, where it fills in gaps with plausible but incorrect information3. Always verify such details.
5. Use Human Judgment: Rely on your own critical thinking and knowledge to assess the reliability of AI-generated content.

The AI tool should lead you to more traditional information sources. Make sure to assess the credibility and reliability of these sources.
How to Evaluate Sources:

1. Check the Author: Look for information about the author. Are they an expert in the field? Do they have relevant qualifications or affiliations?
2. Examine the Publication: Is the source published in a reputable journal, website, or organization? Academic journals, government websites, and established news outlets are generally reliable.
3. Look at the Date: Ensure the information is up-to-date. Research fields can change rapidly, so recent sources are usually more reliable.
4. Assess the Evidence: Does the source provide evidence to support its claims? Look for citations, data, and references to other credible works.
5. Consider the Purpose: Why was the source created? Be cautious of sources with a clear bias or agenda.

Tips for Evaluating Sources:

• Use Multiple Sources: Cross-reference information with multiple credible sources to verify accuracy.
• Be Critical: Always question the reliability and validity of the information you find.
• Seek Peer-Reviewed Articles: These have been reviewed by experts in the field and are generally more trustworthy.