Academic Research Review Prompts

Get a plain-English summary

Summarise this research paper or academic document in plain English. What is it about, who wrote it, what problem or question does it address, and what are the main conclusions?

Find the research question and objectives

What is the central research question, hypothesis, or objective of this paper? State it as clearly as the document does, identify where it appears, and note whether the paper frames it as a question, a hypothesis, or a set of aims.

Explain the research methodology

What research methodology does this paper use? Describe the study design, data sources, sample size, data collection method, and analysis approach as described in the document. Note any methodological choices the authors explicitly justify.

Extract the key findings and results

What are the main findings or results reported in this paper? List each one clearly, based only on what the document states. Distinguish between primary findings, secondary findings, and any unexpected or negative results reported.

Summarise the conclusions and claims

What conclusions does this paper draw from its findings? List the main claims the authors make, identify which findings each claim rests on, and note any conclusions the authors describe as tentative or requiring further research.

Identify study limitations and caveats

What limitations, constraints, or caveats does this paper acknowledge? List each one as stated in the document, identify where it appears, and note whether the authors discuss any impact those limitations have on the findings.

Find key references and prior work cited

What prior research, theories, or authors does this paper cite most heavily or treat as foundational? List the most frequently referenced works and explain briefly how each one is used to support the argument, based on what the document states.

Identify the paper's original contribution

What does this paper claim as its original contribution to the field? What gap in existing research does it say it fills, and how does it position its findings relative to prior work?

Explain key concepts and defined terms

Does this paper formally define any terms, introduce new concepts, or use standard terms in a specific way? List each one, explain what the paper states it means, and identify where the definition or usage appears.

Generate critical questions about the paper

Based on what this paper states, what are the most important questions a critical reader should ask about the methodology, findings, or conclusions? Focus on gaps, assumptions, or claims that the paper itself raises but does not fully resolve.

Create structured study notes

Create structured study notes for this paper. Include: the research question, the methodology in one sentence, the three to five most important findings, the main conclusion, and the key limitation. Format it as a short, scannable reference I can use when writing or revising.