--- description: Learn to research a topic with AI: follow simple steps, example prompts and answers to common questions. title: How to research a topic with AI image: https://agentrerank.com/og/generated/a9c535d4185a01c015ae.png --- 1. [Home](https://agentrerank.com/) 2. /[Use cases](https://agentrerank.com/how-to) 3. /How to research a topic with AI # How to research a topic with AI You need to understand whether a topic is supported by evidence, not just collect convincing paragraphs. Start with a focused question, open the sources and keep notes about what each one can show. ![](https://agentrerank.com/logos/you-com.png) Start with You.com Open the original sources [Open You.com ](https://agentrerank.com/go/you-com?from=%2Fhow-to%2Fresearch-a-topic) [Workflow](#guide-workflow)[Comparison](#guide-comparison)[Questions](#guide-questions) Editorial starting points ยท [Affiliate disclosure](https://agentrerank.com/disclosure) Share Copy link[Post on X](https://x.com/intent/post?text=The%20best%20AI%20tool%20for%20research%20a%20topic%3A%20You.com%20%E2%80%94%20via%20Agent%20Rerank&url=https%3A%2F%2Fagentrerank.com%2Fhow-to%2Fresearch-a-topic)Copy as reply[Download image](https://agentrerank.com/og/default.png)Share on your device Save ## Research one question with sources 1. ### Narrow the research question and evidence type Narrow the research question and evidence type. Write the question: What evidence exists about later school start times and teen sleep; set aside opinion pieces from research papers. 2. You.com ### Open the original sources Find research on \[research question\]. Separate research findings from opinion and link to the original studies. Copy promptCopied[Open You.com](https://agentrerank.com/go/you-com?from=%2Fhow-to%2Fresearch-a-topic) 3. Elicit ### Compare studies rather than just summaries Then use Elicit because it helps you compare studies rather than just summaries. Use your tool to find research on \[research question\], then compare the study designs and populations with sources found through your tool. Copy promptCopied[Open Elicit](https://agentrerank.com/go/elicit?from=%2Fhow-to%2Fresearch-a-topic) 4. ### Read the sources behind the claims Read the sources behind the claims. Open the papers behind the main claims and record sample, methods and limits before writing your own explanation. ## Other tools for this task ![](https://agentrerank.com/logos/perplexity.png) ### Perplexity Research Suited to finding answers with sources to inspect. Free to start [Visit Perplexity](https://agentrerank.com/go/perplexity?from=%2Fhow-to%2Fresearch-a-topic) ![](https://agentrerank.com/logos/elicit.png) ### Elicit Research Find and summarize research papers for a literature review. Free to start [Visit Elicit](https://agentrerank.com/go/elicit?from=%2Fhow-to%2Fresearch-a-topic) ## Before you research a topic Are citations proof that an answer is right? No; open the source and check whether it actually supports the stated claim. What if a paper is behind a paywall? Look for a lawful author copy or library access; do not claim to have read findings available only in a snippet. How narrow should my question be? Name the population, issue and outcome so you can compare relevant evidence instead of unrelated summaries. ## Next guides [Write a short story with AI](https://agentrerank.com/how-to/write-a-short-story)[Write a cover letter with AI](https://agentrerank.com/how-to/write-a-cover-letter)[Make a presentation with AI](https://agentrerank.com/how-to/make-a-presentation) Report a problem / Flag outdated priceReport a problemFlag outdated priceSend report Did this work?YesPartlyI'm stuck What got in your way?Wrong planCan't find the featureOutput not usableDoesn't work on my deviceSend feedback ## Keep going [Also popularWrite a short story](https://agentrerank.com/t/write-a-short-story)[Also popularWrite a cover letter](https://agentrerank.com/t/write-a-cover-letter)[Also popularMake a presentation](https://agentrerank.com/t/make-a-presentation)[Adapt thisFind a gift](https://agentrerank.com/t/find-a-gift)[Also popularExplain a medical term](https://agentrerank.com/t/explain-a-medical-term)[Also popularMake study flashcards](https://agentrerank.com/t/make-study-flashcards) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","name":"Agent Rerank","@id":"https://agentrerank.com/#organization","url":"https://agentrerank.com","founder":{"@id":"https://agentrerank.com/about#ashley-ansons"},"logo":"https://agentrerank.com/brand/mark.svg","contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","email":"founder@agentrerank.com","contactType":"customer support"}},{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Agent Rerank","@id":"https://agentrerank.com/#website","url":"https://agentrerank.com"}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://agentrerank.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How-to guides","item":"https://agentrerank.com/how-to"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to research a topic with AI","item":"https://agentrerank.com/how-to/research-a-topic"}]},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Are citations proof that an answer is right?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No; open the source and check whether it actually supports the stated claim."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What if a paper is behind a paywall?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Look for a lawful author copy or library access; do not claim to have read findings available only in a snippet."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How narrow should my question be?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Name the population, issue and outcome so you can compare relevant evidence instead of unrelated summaries."}}]},{"@type":"HowTo","name":"How to research a topic with AI","description":"You need to understand whether a topic is supported by evidence, not just collect convincing paragraphs. Start with a focused question, open the sources and keep notes about what each one can show.","step":[{"@type":"HowToStep","position":1,"name":"Narrow the research question and evidence type.","text":"Narrow the research question and evidence type. Example: Write the question: What evidence exists about later school start times and teen sleep; set aside opinion pieces from research papers."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":2,"name":"Ask a narrow question and request links to original sources. Separate study findings from commentary and open each useful source.","text":"Ask a narrow question and request links to original sources. Separate study findings from commentary and open each useful source. Prompt: Find research on [research question]. Separate research findings from opinion and link to the original studies."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":3,"name":"Compare studies rather than just summaries.","text":"Compare studies rather than just summaries. Prompt: Use your tool to find research on [research question], then compare the study designs and populations with sources found through your tool."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":4,"name":"Read the sources behind the claims.","text":"Read the sources behind the claims. Example: Open the papers behind the main claims and record sample, methods and limits before writing your own explanation."}],"tool":[{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"You.com"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Perplexity"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Elicit"}]}]} ```