A beginner’s guide to using AI in your literature review
Whether you’re working on your first university assignment or starting a bigger research project, knowing how to approach a literature review is an important skill. And now that AI tools are becoming more common in study and research, it makes sense to ask how they fit into the process, and how to use them in a responsible way. This post explains the basics and introduces a new guide to help you use AI to support your learning, while still developing the research skills you need at university.
What is a literature review?
A literature review is essentially your chance to explore what researchers already know about your topic. You dive into credible sources, like journal articles, books and reports, to understand key ideas, spot gaps in the research and figure out where your own work fits in.
Where does AI come in?
AI is starting to shape how we approach parts of the research process. You might use it to brainstorm keywords, map out themes, or get a sense of what the research landscape looks like. Some tools even claim they can help you search or screen sources. But AI isn’t a shortcut to a good literature review, it’s just one tool you might use along the way.
Using AI responsibly matters
Because AI can influence what you find and how you interpret it, it’s important to use it thoughtfully and ethically. That means knowing when it’s helpful, when it isn’t and making sure you stay in control of the decisions that shape your review.
Using AI responsibly is part of being a good researcher and part of maintaining academic integrity.
Our new AI and literature review guide is here to help
We’ve teamed up with Study Support to bring you a new guide to help you navigate how AI can (and can’t) assist in the research process. This guide shows you:
- When AI can be useful
- When to be cautious (accuracy, bias, citation and transparency matter!)
- Practical prompts you can try
- How to stay aligned with Deakin’s AI guidance
Think of AI as a tool to support your thinking, not replace your research skills.
Take a look at the AI and literature review guide.