Read Research Papers with AI Without Inventing the Evidence
AI can help you navigate a research paper, define unfamiliar terms and organise questions. The paper remains the evidence. Keep its research question, method, results and limitations separate so a convenient summary does not make the findings broader than the authors actually established.
Why it matters
An abstract is a compressed overview, not a substitute for the methods and limitations. A useful reading workflow links each important conclusion back to a section, table or figure you can inspect.
A practical workflow
- Save the paper and its bibliographic details in a reference manager before starting your reading notes.
- Ask for a map of the research question, study design and main results with section references.
- Read the relevant methods and results yourself, checking what was measured and which comparisons were made.
- Write a short note separating the authors' findings, their interpretation and your own unanswered questions.
An example
If a study reports improved performance on one benchmark, record the benchmark, comparison and evaluation conditions. Do not turn that into a claim that the method works better for every task. Ask which additional evidence would be needed for that broader conclusion.
A mistake to avoid
Generated citations may be incomplete or nonexistent. Open the actual paper and verify authors, title and publication details. Do not cite a model's summary as though you personally checked every supporting study it names.
Try it and check the result
Explain the paper's main claim and one limitation without consulting the summary. Then locate the exact evidence for both. If you cannot, return to the original section rather than requesting another polished paraphrase.
Reference and further reading
Zotero's reference management guide.
The workflows and examples in this guide are illustrative. Product controls and availability can change; check the linked official guidance for your setup.
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