An information need is the gap between what you know and what you need to know to solve a problem or answer a question. Providing context in your prompt is crucial because it helps clarify your specific requirements and guides the AI in generating relevant responses.

By framing your request with additional details, such as the intended audience or the depth of information required, you enable the AI to tailor its output more effectively. This context not only enhances the relevance of the information provided but also saves time by reducing the need for follow-up queries.

Once you have a list of topics generated by AI, the next step is to select one that truly captures your interest. Choosing a topic you are passionate about or curious about will make your research more engaging and enjoyable. After selecting your main topic, it's important to narrow it down by asking for sub-topics. This helps to focus your inquiry and makes the information more manageable.

Note: If you don't see any that interest you, ask it to suggest more related topics until you find one that you want to use.

After selecting one of the AI-generated sub-topics, the next step is to formulate potential research questions that will guide your exploration and inquiry. Research questions are essential because they help to clarify what you want to investigate and provide a framework for your research.

Note: You can get feedback on research questions you have in mind by asking it to act as a research expert and provide constructive feedback on your question.

Once you have chosen your research question, ask for some keywords to use when searching library databases.

The AI will analyze your question and generate relevant keywords and phrases to create an effective search strategy for library databases. This foundational list can then be expanded by asking for additional related terms or synonyms, broadening your search scope and ensuring comprehensive coverage of your topic.

Once you have a solid list of keywords, use them to conduct searches in library databases, academic search engines, or tools like Google Scholar. Start with broad searches using general keywords, then narrow down your results by incorporating more specific phrases or combinations of keywords. The aim is to locate scholarly articles, journals, and other resources that discuss your topic from different angles. Remember, the more precise your keywords, the more relevant your search results will be, so don’t hesitate to experiment with variations of your keywords.

To further refine your searches, you can ask for assistance in creating Boolean search strings. These strings allow you to combine keywords using operators like AND, OR, and NOT to create more targeted queries. For instance, if you're researching how the location and design of gardens reflect the social hierarchies and cultural values of the Renaissance, you might construct a search string like:

Using these Boolean operators can help you filter out irrelevant information and focus your search on the most pertinent studies and articles, making your research process more efficient and effective.