Finding and using sources.
THE CITATION WARNING
Ask for sources and you receive references that look entirely real and do not exist.
Sometimes real sources are cited for claims they do not make.
Fabricated citations in academic work is misconduct.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD
Search proper databases and your library Obtain the actual papers Give the model the papers and ask questions about them
That grounds everything in real material.
USEFUL PROMPTS ON REAL SOURCES
"Summarise the method and findings of this paper." "What limitations do the authors acknowledge?" "How does this differ from [other paper]?"
WHAT NOT TO ASK
"What does the research say about X?" without supplying the research.
You will receive a plausible synthesis that may not reflect the literature.
FOR UNDERSTANDING A FIELD
Useful for getting oriented before reading properly.
FOR YOUR REFERENCE LIST
Every entry must be something you retrieved and read.
