Literature Review Tools

If you’re new to AI-assisted lit reviews, start here:

AI: Tools for Literature Reviews (Introduction)

What you’ll learn

  • A four-step workflow: scope → search → skim → synthesize.
  • How GenAI can suggest queries and structure notes (without fabricating citations).
  • A triage table for quick include/maybe/exclude decisions.
  • A synthesis matrix you can paste into your notes or a spreadsheet.
  • Citation hygiene (DOIs, dates, paywalls, and avoiding fake references).

Ground rule: GenAI can brainstorm queries and structure notes. Do not accept citations the model invents. Always verify authors, titles, venues, DOIs/URLs, and dates yourself.

Before you start

  • Have your question in one sentence.
  • Open your library search (UVic discovery), Google Scholar, and your preferred tool (Perplexity, Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude—any is fine).
  • Use a reference manager (Zotero or equivalent) ready to capture PDFs/DOIs.

Step 1 — Scope your question (2–5 min)

Pick a simple framing (use one):

  • PICo (Population • Interest • Context)
  • SPIDER (Sample • Phenomenon • Design • Evaluation • Research type)

Prompt (copy/paste):


Role: research methods tutor
Action: Turn my topic into PICo and SPIDER framings; list synonyms for each element.
Topic: <paste your one-sentence question>
Format: Table with Columns = Element, My term, 5–8 synonyms/alternates.
Constraints: No citations; just terms I can test in databases.

Step 2 — Search (5–10 min)

Use the terms to build real queries in UVic discovery, subject databases, and Google Scholar. Let GenAI help draft the strings—then you run them.

Prompt:


Action: Propose 3 Boolean search strings for databases and 2 for Google Scholar.
Input terms: <paste your PICo/SPIDER terms>
Constraints: Include truncation and phrase quotes where sensible.
Return: Code blocks only; do not invent or cite papers.

Run the queries yourself. Open actual results, export RIS/DOIs to your manager.

Step 3 — Skim & triage (10–15 min)

Skim titles/abstracts. Use this triage table (paste into notes/Sheets/Notion):

Triage (blank) | Decision | Reason (≤10 words) | Title | First Author | Year | Venue/DOI | |—|—|—|—|—|—| | Include/Maybe/Exclude | | | | | |

Aim for 8–15 “Include/Maybe” items before moving on.

Step 4 — Synthesize (15–20 min)

For each included paper, capture concise, comparable notes.

Synthesis matrix (blank) | Paper (APA short) | Question/Goal | Method & Sample | Key Findings | Limits | Use in my review | |—|—|—|—|—|—|

Prompt (per paper, optional):


Role: careful note-taker
Action: Produce a structured abstract from the excerpt below.
Format: Question/Goal; Method & Sample; Key Findings; Limits; 2 short quotations (≤10 words) with page/section refs if present.
Constraints: Use only the pasted text; do not invent citations or page numbers; if missing, write [NOT IN EXCERPT].

Paste the actual abstract or a short excerpt from the PDF you opened, not just a URL.

Safer GenAI usage (what to ask vs what to avoid)

Good asks

  • Suggest synonyms and Boolean strings.
  • Outline headings for a related-work section.
  • Normalize your notes into a consistent table.
  • Draft inclusion/exclusion criteria (you approve them).

Avoid

  • Accepting generated citations you haven’t verified.
  • Summaries of paywalled papers the tool cannot access.
  • Claims without publication venue and year.

Copy-paste prompt kit

Inclusion/exclusion criteria


Action: Propose inclusion and exclusion criteria for my review.
Context: <2–3 lines about scope and audience>
Format: Two lists (bullets); keep each item ≤12 words.

Query refinement

Action: Given these results (paste 3 titles/abstract snippets), suggest 2 narrower and 2 broader search strings.
Constraints: Boolean-ready; no fake paper names; code blocks only.

Outline builder

Role: academic editor
Action: Draft an outline for a 1200-word related work section based on my included papers (list below).
Format: H2/H3 headings; notes under each with which paper supports it (Author-Year).
Constraints: Use only my list; no new sources.

Hands-on (15–25 min)

1) Run Step 1 & 2 with your topic; capture 3–5 promising papers.
2) Fill the Triage table for those papers.
3) Complete Synthesis rows for 2 papers using real text.
4) Build a short outline with which paper supports each point.

Badge evidence: screenshot of your triage table and a synthesis matrix row.

Citation hygiene (2–3 min)

  • Record author, year, title, venue, DOI/URL for every included paper.
  • Prefer the publisher DOI over blog mirrors.
  • For quotes, record page/section.
  • If a tool proposes a citation, assume it’s wrong until you verify.

Quick tool map (use what you have)

  • Search/Discovery: UVic library search, subject databases, Google Scholar.
  • Query help & notes: Perplexity, Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude (for queries/structure, not citations).
  • Citation managers: Zotero (recommended), Mendeley, EndNote.
  • Graph/discovery aids (optional): ResearchRabbit, Connected Papers (always verify).

Lit Review: add scope→search→skim→synthesize workflow, prompts, triage/synthesis tables, and citation hygiene

PRISMA-lite log (keep it simple)

| Stage | Count | Notes | |—|—|—| | Records identified | | | Duplicates removed | | | Screened (title/abstract) | | | Full-text assessed | | | Included in review | |

Tip: keep this in your notes or a sheet; it saves time later.

NEXT STEP: Earn a Workshop Badge ```