scid.aiWho are these guides for?
Students, PhD candidates and researchers who need to understand quickly how to write a literature review and find sources. The texts are not tied to one discipline.
Guides
Guides to literature review, research search and talks
Short practical texts on how a literature review, research search and a research talk work. No filler, with steps you can repeat in scid.ai.
Pick a topic
Each guide ends with a concrete next step: a prompt that opens the scid.ai workspace with the task ready.
Guide
How to write a literature review
How to do a literature review step by step: framing the question, finding and screening sources, structuring by theme rather than by author, synthesis, referencing. Writing a literature review with examples and common mistakes.
GuideWhat is a literature review
Literature review explained: definition, why it is needed, how it differs from an annotated bibliography and a summary, what parts it has and how to tell it is done well.
GuideTypes of literature review and how to choose one
Types of literature review: narrative, systematic, scoping, meta-analysis, integrative, umbrella, rapid. How they differ, when to choose which, how long each takes.
GuideScoping review vs systematic review: difference and choice
A scoping review maps a field; a systematic review answers a narrow question by protocol. Compared by aim, question, search, quality appraisal, reporting (PRISMA and PRISMA-ScR) and timelines.
GuideSystematic review vs literature review: difference and choice
How a systematic review differs from a traditional (narrative) literature review: aim, question, protocol, search, screening, quality appraisal, PRISMA, timeline. A nine-criteria comparison and a rule for choosing.
GuideHow to find a research gap
What a research gap is, six types of gaps (evidence, methodological, population, theoretical, practical, empirical) and a step-by-step way to find a gap from the literature. A research gap analysis you can repeat, with scid.ai as a research gap finder for the final step.
GuideJournal club presentation: how to present a research paper
A 10-slide structure for a journal club or seminar presentation of a research paper: question, method, results, limitations, significance. What to take from the paper, what goes into speaker notes, common mistakes and how to build the slides with AI.
GuideThesis defense presentation: structure and slide-by-slide example
How to make a thesis or dissertation defense presentation: how many slides, a slide-by-slide example structure, how to show the literature review and novelty, what the committee expects, common mistakes, tips. Build the slides with sources using AI.
GuideHow to prepare a conference presentation
Slides for a scientific conference talk: talk formats, a 12-slide structure for 15 minutes, one idea per slide, visualising results, timed rehearsal, the sources slide.
GuideResearch presentation structure: slide by slide
How to structure a research presentation: slides for the problem, aim and objectives, object and subject, hypothesis, methods, results and conclusions. What goes on each, wording examples, common mistakes and how to build the slides with AI from sources.
Frequently asked questions
Are the guides written by AI?
The texts are prepared by the scid.ai team and follow widely accepted methodological practice. AI tools are mentioned where they actually speed up a step.
Can I cite these guides?
You can, but for academic work rely on methodological publications and the standards of your discipline; use the guides as a working checklist.
Apply the guide to your own topic
Type a research question, scid.ai finds papers, shows the topic graph and drafts a sourced literature review.