For Librarians: Exploring the Art of ChatGPT Prompts Instead Of Keywords

Both Keywords and Prompts are approaches that are essential tools in the research process and can be used together to create effective and efficient searches.

Summary

• Keywords are essential because they help narrow the search results and make them more relevant to the user's needs.
• For example, if you were searching for information on the effects of social media on mental health, you might use keywords such as "social media," "mental health," "effects," and "research."
• Prompts, conversely, are questions or statements designed to guide a user toward a particular topic or line of inquiry.
• They are often used in information literacy instruction to help students develop research questions or to brainstorm ideas for a research project.
• Prompts can focus the user's attention on a particular aspect of a topic and can generate new ideas or perspectives.
• For example, a prompt for the same issue might be "How has the rise of social media impacted the mental health of adolescents?"

Here is a table comparing side-by-side ChatGPT prompts and keywords for the exact search on "COVID-19 vaccine efficacy," highlighting various facets.

	ChatGPT Prompts	Keywords
Approach	Open-ended, prompting users to think more deeply about a topic or issue	Specific words or phrases used to represent a concept or idea
Example	What factors affect the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines?	COVID-19 vaccine efficacy
Purpose	Focusing a search on a specific question or topic	Conducting broad investigations
Advantages	Helps users think more critically about a topic and develop a deeper understanding of the issues involved	Offers a precise way to search for information
Disadvantages	It may require more effort to craft effective prompts	This may lead to too many or too few search results depending on the specificity of the keywords used

There are several essentials to remember when creating good academic research prompts for ChatGPT. Here are some key considerations:

Clear and specific research question:

The prompt should clearly and specifically state the research question that the user wants to explore. This helps to focus the search and generate more relevant results.

Relevant keywords:

The prompt should include relevant keywords related to the research topic. These keywords should accurately reflect the main ideas and concepts related to the research question.

Open-ended:

The prompt should be open-ended, allowing for various possible answers and interpretations. This encourages exploration and creativity in the research process.

Concise and easy to understand:

The prompt should be concise and easy to understand, using simple and straightforward language. This helps avoid confusion and ensures the user can quickly and easily understand the research question.

Avoiding bias:

The prompt should avoid bias or leading language that could influence the direction of the research. Instead, it should be neutral and objective, allowing the user to explore the topic in a balanced and unbiased way.

Here is a table comparing side-by-side ChatGPT prompts and keywords for the exact search on "Global Warming," "Fake News," and "Internet Privacy."

Research Topic	ChatGPT Prompts	Keyword Search Terms
Global Warming	How does global warming impact the environment? What are the causes and effects of global warming? Can global warming be reversed or slowed down? How are governments and organizations working to address global warming?	global warming, climate change, greenhouse gases, carbon emissions, sea level rise
Fake News	What is the definition of fake news? How does artificial news impact society? What are the primary sources of fake news? How can individuals identify and combat fake news?	fake news, misinformation, propaganda, disinformation, media literacy
Internet Privacy	What is internet privacy, and why is it important? What are the risks and consequences of not protecting one's internet privacy? How can individuals and organizations protect their internet privacy? What are the current laws and regulations surrounding internet privacy?	internet privacy, data security, online tracking, cookies, cybercrime