1. Scientific Thinking
To begin, let’s start by asking the question “why science?” Why is science important for improving human understanding of the world? When is research a good way of knowing, and when is it not?
Even if you don’t want to become a professional researcher, you’ll encounter research and scientific thinking in your career and daily life. The goal of this textbook is that you’ll be able to evaluate research when you encounter it. To start you on the path towards that goal, we first want to make sure you can recognize science when you see it (and recognize when something looks scientific but is not!) and understand some basic classifications of social scientific studies.
Learning Objectives
- Apply the steps of the scientific method to social science
- Identify a social science study as basic and applied science
- Identify a social science study as primary or secondary research
- Classify a social science study as qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods
- Articulate reasons for using and not using AI tools in studying research
Why AI?
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Using AI with Integrity: A Student’s Guide to Smarter Research
AI is a powerful tool in academia, offering coherent, systematic, and informative content to support learning and research (Lo, 2023). However, its effectiveness depends on the user’s ability to use it skillfully and responsibly. This text aims to equip you with the skills to effectively utilize AI, particularly in crafting compelling research papers.
Our goal is to guide you in using AI responsibly. Harvard’s Graduate School of Education (2023) indicates that as professors, it is our job to teach students to do what artificial intelligence cannot do. We feel it is our job to teach students how to ask “the right” questions when using AI and to learn how to critique the answers generated by AI. By combining these abilities, students can harness the benefits of AI while maintaining academic integrity and critical thinking.
While there are precautions to take when using AI, I believe that when used correctly, AI can streamline the research process and enhance quality. Let’s explore some key ways AI might be used as you construct your research proposal.
- Brainstorming: While AI can provide valuable ideas, students should ensure that they are the ones leading the AI, rather than the AI leading them. To ensure this process, before using AI, think independently about the topic and jot down initial ideas or questions. This allows students to bring their unique perspective into the process. AI should be treated as a brainstorming partner rather than the primary source. Be sure to keep track of how AI contributions influence your work. Failing to do so can lead to issues of plagiarism or academic dishonesty.
- Finding Sources: AI can help locate relevant academic articles, journals, and publications. (I will discuss the necessary precautions in the next chapter.)
- Editing and Proofreading: AI-based grammar and style checkers (e.g., Grammarly, ProWritingAid) can help identify spelling and grammatical errors. While AI can enhance grammar, clarity, and structure, it should not replace the student’s unique writing style or voice. Students should use AI as a tool for improvement, not as a substitute for their own creativity. Additionally, AI should not be relied upon to write the paper itself. This undermines the learning process and risks academic integrity.
Here is a list of AI formats you may find helpful:
| Consensus | Research | Searches peer-reviewed articles and gives simple-to-read summaries on them and shows a consensus meter on what the top research articles conclude about your research question input | Free |
| Elicit | Research | Searches peer-reviewed articles and gives simple-to-read summaries on them and shows a summary of what the top research articles conclude about your research question input | Free |
| Litmaps | Research | Maps research articles for you in terms of relevance, references, citations, and date | Freemium |
| SciSpace | Research | Find, create, and publish research. It also has a cool “Chat with a PDF” feature where you upload a PDF research article to it and you can chat with what the research studied and claims | Freemium |
I hope this has provided a starting point for you to consider as you contemplate integrating AI into your research process. I, for one, am excited to help you add AI to your research resources toolkit. As this text progresses, I will continue to provide practical suggestions and guidance on effectively and ethically incorporating AI into your work. My goal is to ensure that you feel confident using AI not just as a tool but as a complement to your own critical thinking and analytical skills, all while maintaining ethical standards, setting you up for success both in this class and in your future academic endeavors.
Reference:
Cardenas, C. (2025, February 21). Teach students to become AI literate [Professional Development Session]. AI Academy, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT, United States.
Lo, C. K. (2023). Using AI to Support Academic Writing: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal of Educational Technology, 45(2), 134–145.
Harvard Graduate School of Education. (2023). Teaching in the Age of AI. Retrieved from https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/
