Glossary Glossary

Download a glossary of terms used in this course.

In this module, you will learn how artificial intelligence (AI) could be effectively and responsibly used in research workflows.

View the following video to find out more about AI in research and what you will learn in this module.

Continue on to find out more about AI in research and what you will learn in this module.

When using AI in research workflows, it is important to first establish whether to use AI at all and then how to use it appropriately. Different tasks could suggest different levels of AI involvement, and understanding these distinctions is essential for responsible research practice.

AI could be utilised in a number of ways. Consider the graphic and select each level to discover the increasing levels of reliance and how we can approach our relationship with AI.

AI could be utilised in a number of ways. Review the points and consider the increasing levels of reliance and how we can approach our relationship with AI.

The AI Engagement Spectrum for Researchers

An arrow pointing from left to right to indicate the 'level of engagement'. The starting position on the left indicates the lowest level of engagement, ranging to the highest level of engagement at the end point on the right. An arrow pointing from top to bottom to indicate the 'level of engagement'. The starting position at the top indicates the lowest level of engagement, ranging to the highest level of engagement at the end point at the bottom. The AI Engagement Spectrum for Researchers Level 0: Exclusion: Conscious Non-use

Personal choice

AI is intentionally excluded from all stages of research. This approach may be required for sensitive studies or where methodological purity is paramount. Researchers should document and justify this decision clearly.

 Level 1: Minimal support

Limited augmentation

AI is used sparingly for low-stakes, administrative tasks under full human oversight. Examples include grammar checking, reference formatting or simple transcription. Transparency about even minor uses is important for research integrity.

 Level 2: Active partnership

Integrated use

AI assists substantively but remains under human oversight and critical review. Uses may include searching, analysing or organising literature, suggesting coding categories or generating early drafts of research instruments. Keep a detailed AI use log.

 Level 3: Delegation

Functional substitution

AI performs significant research tasks with minimal human intervention, such as generating hypotheses, processing data or conducting unsupervised analyses. This level demands critical reflection on authorship, accountability and the potential risks to research integrity.

Where do you see yourself on the AI engagement spectrum? Reflect on this as you continue through the module.