Unveiling the path from an idea to a draft

What does it take to turn a research idea into a full-fledged study? What nuances should you pay attention to, what tools should you rely on when writing the paper? This semester, we offered a new one-day course aimed at helping colleagues fins answers to these questions.

The course “From a research idea to a paper draft," which was held on April 27,. was developed by Konstantin Nefedov specifically for HSE researchers to help them master new strategies and tools for preparing a scientific article.

During the course, participants tested such online literature search tools as Litmaps, Perplexity, Scispace, and Elicit, tried their hand at using them, discussed strategies for choosing the right journal, and practiced formulating a research question. By the end of this fruitful day, the participants have prepared a validated research question, a literature review draft, and a list of suitable journals for possible publication of the work. 

The colleagues found the wide range of AI tools presented at the course especially valuable:

• “The instructor provided us with excellent AI search tools and very clear handouts that helped structure both the research process and the presentation of our findings.”
• “The utilization of AI tools to kickstart research from scratch was a game-changer for me.”
• “One of the most valuable aspects of the course was the introduction to a wide range of tools and applications that can be leveraged for research purposes. The trainer covered a variety of AI-powered tools, online databases, and software applications that can streamline the research process and enhance the quality of the output.”

The Academic Writing Center will resume its courses next semester following the summer break. Stay tuned on our website for upcoming details and join us to enhance your academic writing skills and broaden your repertoire of strategies. We look forward to welcoming you in September!