Should I use AI-driven apps like ResearchRabbit for research?
Answer
In general, the library discourages the use of AI-driven apps for research. This is because they can send you down a “rabbit hole” away from your topic, or they can return too many related irrelevant sources, making your research task overwhelming. As a review by Cole & Boutet (2023) suggests, ResearchRabbit should be used as a supplement for unstructured searching, not as a primary research database (see “Intended Users” section).
You have much more control over the research process if you search databases such as the library’s Discover Search tool, a database specific to your field of study, or Google Scholar. To help get you started with your research, visit the Library's guides on finding and accessing research materials.
Reference
Cole, V., & Boutet, M. (2023). ResearchRabbit. Journal of Canadian Health Libraries Association, 44(2), 43-47. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10403115/