There are many “prompting guides” out there, but not all of them are suitable for research purposes.
Here are two simple structures or frameworks that can help you write better prompts. They are quite similar - so pick one that is easier for you to remember.
Note: These prompting tips (or prompt engineering techniques) are used for pure LLMs such as ChatGPT or bots on Poe.com, not for RAG-based tools such as Scite.ai, Elicit, Scopus AI. Learn more from this article.
| PROPER framework | CREATE framework | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| P - Persona | Which role should the model take? | C - Character | Which role should the model take? |
| R - Request | What task should it do? | R - Request | What task should it do? |
| O - Operation | In which way / method? | E - Examples | Give an example or template to follow |
| P - Presentation | In which format / style / tone? | A - Adjustments | In which way / method? |
| E - Examples | Give an example or template to follow | T - Type of output | In which format / style / tone? |
| R - Refinement | Give feedback, iterate and improve result | E - Extras | Give feedback, iterate and improve result |
| Source: Peter Gruber. "Using ChatGPT for Efficient Data Analysis with R" Workshop. | Source: Dave Birss. "How to Research and Write Using Generative AI Tools" Online Course. | ||
(Using PROPER framework)
Example 1 - Explore keywords |
Example 2 - Find research directions |
|
|---|---|---|
| P - Persona | You are an experienced researcher specializing in health and wellness. | You are an experienced author specializing in the intersection of AI and academic publishing. |
| R - Request | Please suggest some keywords related to my research topic which is "sleep and weight control". | I'm researching on how generative AI can impact academic publishing. Can you give me some directions to look into? |
| O - Operation (optional) |
Analyze the topic "sleep and weight control" and use your extensive database to identify the most relevant and frequently associated topics, terms, and phrases. | Use your comprehensive database to identify various aspects of the topic, including potential challenges, opportunities, and implications. |
| P - Presentation | List the result in bullet points. | List the result in bullet points. Each bullet should include a brief explanation of why that direction is relevant or interesting to the topic. |
| E - Examples (optional) |
Keywords related to sleep: Keywords related to weight control: |
|
| R - Refinement (optional) |
(After the first round of keyword suggestions, I will provide feedback on which terms are most helpful and which are less relevant. You will then refine your suggestions based on this feedback to provide a more targeted list.) Follow-up prompt:
|
(After the first round of suggested research directions, I will provide feedback on which directions are most relevant and interesting, and which areas might need more exploration. You should then refine your suggestions based on this feedback to provide a more targeted list of potential research directions.) Follow-up prompt:
|
| See results on Poe |
Assistant (GPT-3.5): https://poe.com/s/JmBKFXWJjMkTJm1xqeOl |
Assistant (GPT-3.5): https://poe.com/s/aQD6B2BbhDqNDuOP5AEH |
Notes: The framework only provides a simple structure to follow. It does not mean that you should include every component in every prompt. The key components that will affect the results are: Request, Presentation, and Examples.
