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University of Sunderland Library

Research Assistant: Important Reminders

A guide to using Research Assistant, a generative AI-powered tool, effectively and cohesively with Library Search.
Making AI tools work for your research, your way. This guide is to help you get the best from Research Assistant and Library Search. Research Assistant is a generative AI-powered tool and a helpful starting point, but it does not replace Library Search. Here’s how to use both effectively, so you get relevant, accurate, and up-to-date sources for your assignments.

Important reminders

✅ Research Assistant is not always accurate. Just because a source is listed doesn’t mean it fully relates to your question. Research Assistant is powered by AI and, therefore, is subject to limitations.

✅ Use filters to improve results: Use the ‘Available Online’ filter option to search for reading that the Library subscribes to (this means you can read the full-text version). Set a recent publication date range for more current materials.

✅ Always double-check sources in Library Search to make sure they’re relevant and usable. Be aware of the limitations of AI and always evaluate the sources that have been suggested to you.

Don't rely only on Research Assistant — it gives suggestions, but you still need to think critically and search actively.

If you’d like any help using the Research Assistant or Library Search, or just want to feel more confident in your research, our team is here to support you. You can visit our help desks on campus or contact us online via Library Talk. No question is too small – we’re always happy to help!