Research with ChatGPT works best when you treat it like a research assistant, not a truth machine. Below are proven prompts that help you find sources, uncover gaps, and build better briefs.
Contents
Table of Contents
Research Setup: What to Provide
- Your goal: summary, decision, blog post, business plan, etc.
- Constraints: region, timeframe, budget, audience.
- What you already know (and what you suspect is wrong).
20 Copy/Paste Research Prompts
| Prompt | Copy/paste | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Topic map | Build a topic map for {topic}. Output: subtopics, key questions, jargon glossary, and 10 search queries. | Get a research plan before reading. |
| Claim table | Answer my question, then extract all claims into a table: Claim | Confidence | What evidence would confirm it | Where to verify. | Turns answers into verifiable items. |
| Source scout | List 10 credible sources to check for {topic}. Prefer primary sources. For each: what it covers and why it’s credible. | Find where truth likely lives. |
| Compare viewpoints | Give the strongest arguments on both sides of {debate}. For each side, list evidence types that would support it. | Reduces one-sided outputs. |
| Research brief | Create a 1-page research brief: definitions, key facts (mark uncertain), key debates, risks, and a reading list. | Great for writing posts. |
A 5-Step Research Workflow with AI
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1) Clarify your question | Rewrite my question in 3 clearer versions and ask me 5 clarifying questions. |
| 2) Get a reading plan | Give me a research plan: what to read first, then second, and what to ignore. |
| 3) Extract claims | Convert the draft answer into a claim table. |
| 4) Verify outside AI | Use search + official docs + reputable outlets. |
| 5) Write + cite | Draft a final article with sections + FAQs and include placeholders for citations. |
Mini Prompt Library (Save These)
| Template | Copy/paste |
|---|---|
| Source-first answer | Answer ONLY using the sources I provide. If a claim isn’t supported, remove it. |
| Uncertainty map | Highlight the most uncertain parts of your answer and what data would resolve them. |
| Contradiction hunt | Find contradictions in your answer and propose which claim is most likely wrong. |
Key Takeaways
- Use AI to plan research and structure notes, then verify externally.
- Claim tables are the fastest way to reduce hallucinations.
- Ask for opposing viewpoints to avoid one-sided summaries.
- Keep a small research prompt library and reuse it.
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FAQs
Can ChatGPT browse the web by default?
Some tools can, but don’t assume it. Always verify claims using real sources you can open.
How do I ensure sources are credible?
Prefer primary sources, reputable institutions, and outlets with clear editorial standards.
What if sources disagree?
Summarize both sides and explain why they differ (definitions, scope, data).
References & Further Reading
External
- OpenAI prompt engineering guide
- OpenAI prompt best practices
- OpenAI prompt best practices (ChatGPT)
- NIST AI Risk Management Framework
- Google Search: using generative AI content
- IBM: few-shot learning
- Wikipedia: zero-shot learning