The fastest way to do your literature review [Do it in SECONDS]

Andy Stapleton
29 Aug 202209:29

TLDRDiscover the fastest way to conduct a literature review using cutting-edge tools like PaperDigest.org for automated literature summaries, Elicit.org for semantic search, and visualization tools such as Lit Maps, Connected Papers, and Research Rabbit. These platforms enhance the research process by providing summaries, suggesting questions, and mapping the research landscape, ultimately expediting the literature review and keeping researchers updated on their fields.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 Utilize modern tools like PaperDigest.org for a quick literature review on a topic, such as 'water-based organic photovoltaics'.
  • 🔍 Choose the time frame for the literature review, whether it's from the past year, five years, or any custom period.
  • 📈 Obtain a summary of related work with citations to help understand the research's history and current state.
  • 🎯 Use the tool to generate different types of paragraphs that summarize the research, but do not solely rely on it for your literature review.
  • 📚 Read the suggested papers and jot down questions that arise, as this will guide your further research.
  • 🔎 Explore semantic search tools like Elicit.org to refine your research questions and find more relevant studies.
  • 📊 Elicit.org provides options to filter results based on abstract takeaways, interventions, outcomes measured, and participant numbers.
  • 🌐 Visualize research connections with tools like Lit Maps, Connected Papers, and Research Rabbit to understand how studies relate to each other.
  • 🔄 Use visualization tools to find papers that should be read next based on their connections to your seed paper.
  • 📝 Export findings into a reference manager for further organization and citation in your literature review.
  • 🎥 Watch additional videos for guidance on writing the literature review and using these tools effectively.

Q & A

  • What is the main theme of the video?

    -The main theme of the video is about the fastest way to do a literature review using various online tools and strategies.

  • What is the first tool recommended in the video for literature review?

    -The first tool recommended in the video for literature review is PaperDigest.org, which provides automated machine learning-based literature reviews.

  • How does the PaperDigest tool work?

    -The PaperDigest tool works by allowing users to type in a research topic and generating a literature review with citations from a specified time frame, such as the past year or the past five years.

  • What is the warning given about using the PaperDigest tool?

    -The warning given about using the PaperDigest tool is not to copy and paste the generated content directly, as it is not perfect and requires the researcher to refine their specific research questions and areas.

  • What is the second tool introduced in the video?

    -The second tool introduced in the video is Elicit.org, which is a semantic search tool for science.

  • How can Elicit.org assist in literature review?

    -Elicit.org can assist in literature review by providing different research questions, summarizing the current state of a topic, and offering various filters such as takeaways from abstracts, interventions, outcomes measured, and number of participants.

  • What are the three visualization tools recommended for exploring research connections?

    -The three visualization tools recommended for exploring research connections are Lit Maps, Connected Papers, and Research Rabbit.

  • Why are visualization tools important in literature review?

    -Visualization tools are important in literature review as they help to understand the order in which literature was released, how they connect, and how they reference each other, which can be very confusing otherwise.

  • Which visualization tool does the speaker prefer and why?

    -The speaker prefers Lit Maps because of its clean interface and ease of navigation, which they believe is more user-friendly from a researcher's perspective.

  • What should a researcher do after using these tools?

    -After using these tools, a researcher should export the findings into their reference manager and further refine their literature review by exploring the papers, answering questions that arise, and developing a comprehensive understanding of the research area.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Discovering Research Tools for Literature Review

The speaker expresses amazement at the modern tools available for researchers, contrasting them with the limited resources from their own PhD days. They introduce an automated machine learning tool from paperdigest.org, which streamlines the literature review process by generating a summary of relevant work based on a given topic. The tool can produce citations from different time frames, helping researchers understand the evolution and current state of their research area. The speaker advises users to use these summaries as a starting point and to delve deeper into the research by reading the recommended papers and saving the references for further exploration.

05:01

🔍 Enhancing Research with Semantic Search and Visualization Tools

After discussing the initial steps of using an automated tool for literature review, the speaker moves on to semantic search with elicit.org. This tool allows researchers to ask questions in natural language and provides a variety of related questions to explore. It also offers a way to filter results and export them for further use. The speaker then recommends three visualization tools - Lit Maps, Connected Papers, and Research Rabbit - to understand the connections and progression of research papers. Each tool is briefly described, with Lit Maps highlighted as the speaker's favorite due to its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to explore these tools to efficiently build and navigate their literature review.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Literature Review

A literature review is a comprehensive analysis of previously published research on a specific topic. In the context of the video, it is the process of identifying, evaluating, and summarizing existing research to understand the current state of knowledge in a particular field. The video emphasizes the importance of conducting a thorough literature review to establish a solid foundation for further research.

💡Machine Learning

Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that involves the use of algorithms and statistical models to enable computers to learn from and make predictions or decisions based on data. In the video, the presenter highlights an automated machine learning tool that can aid in conducting a literature review by summarizing relevant research papers efficiently.

💡Semantic Search

Semantic search refers to the process of searching for information by understanding the meaning and context of the search query, rather than just matching keywords. In the video, the presenter introduces a semantic search tool for science, elicit.org, which helps researchers find relevant studies and questions by understanding the context of their research topic.

💡Research Questions

Research questions are specific, focused inquiries that guide the direction of a research project. They are essential for defining the scope of the research and identifying the gaps in current knowledge. The video emphasizes the importance of formulating clear research questions to utilize semantic search tools effectively and to guide the literature review process.

💡Visualization Tools

Visualization tools are software applications that help users graphically represent and explore data or information. In the context of the video, these tools are used to visually map out the connections between research papers, helping researchers understand the flow and progression of research in their field.

💡Water-based Organic Photovoltaics

Water-based organic photovoltaics refers to a type of solar cell technology that uses organic materials dissolved in water as the active layer for converting sunlight into electricity. This technology is highlighted in the video as an example of a research topic for which the presenter demonstrates the use of literature review tools.

💡Abstract

An abstract is a brief summary of a research paper or article that presents the main findings, conclusions, and implications of the study. It is typically provided at the beginning of a paper to give readers an overview of what to expect. In the video, the presenter uses abstracts to quickly scan and select relevant research papers for the literature review.

💡Reference Manager

A reference manager is a software tool used to store, organize, and format citations and bibliographies. Researchers use these tools to manage their sources and ensure proper citation in their work. The video suggests that the findings from the literature review should be exported into a reference manager for further organization and use in research writing.

💡Research Environment

The research environment refers to the context in which research is conducted, including the resources, tools, and community that support the research process. In the video, the presenter discusses various tools that can help researchers navigate and understand the current state of their research environment by visualizing the connections between different studies.

💡PhD Survival Guide

The PhD Survival Guide is a resource designed to provide advice, strategies, and tips to help PhD students navigate the challenges of their research degree. In the video, the presenter mentions their project, academiainsider.com, where they offer a PhD Survival Guide along with other resources for researchers.

Highlights

Numerous powerful tools are now available for conducting literature reviews, greatly enhancing the process.

During the speaker's PhD, there was a lack of automation and search quality present in today's tools.

PaperDigest.org offers an automated machine learning tool for rapid literature review generation.

By simply typing a topic like 'water-based organic photovoltaics', the tool provides a summary with citations.

The tool can generate literature reviews from different time frames, such as the past year or five years.

It is important not to copy and paste the generated reviews directly, as they require refinement and specificity.

Elicit.org is a semantic search tool for science that can refine research questions and provide related queries.

Elicit.org allows researchers to extract key information from abstracts, such as interventions and outcomes.

The tool can sort and filter research papers by year, providing a current overview of the field.

Lit Maps, Connected Papers, and Research Rabbit are recommended for visual exploration of research connections.

Lit Maps provides a comprehensive map of connected research papers, including notes and citations.

Connected Papers shows the lineage of research, including prior works and derivative studies.

Research Rabbit offers a navigatable, user-friendly interface for exploring the literature.

The speaker prefers Lit Maps for its clean interface and researcher-focused design.

These tools facilitate the creation of a literature review by providing a foundation and aiding in paper selection.

Exporting findings into a reference manager is the next step, which will be covered in future content.

The speaker's project, AcademiaInsider.com, offers resources such as eBooks and guides for academic writing and PhD survival.

The rapid evolution of research tools is making the process of literature review more exciting and efficient.