The Primo Research Assistant is a built-in tool in Primo Search that uses generative AI to help you with your research. You can ask it questions in plain language, and it will give you clear, referenced answers based on academic sources. It’s a quick and easy way to start your research or get ideas for exploring a topic further.

Key Features

• Ask in your own words: Type your research question using natural, everyday language.
• AI-powered summaries: Get a concise overview based on the top five most relevant articles, with in-text citations.
• Source links included: Easily explore the original articles through direct links.
• Supports multiple languages: Ask questions in different languages - results are translated and returned in your chosen language.
• Full-text access: View the complete articles when available through Primo.

How it works

• Question analysis: Your question is converted into a Boolean search query with multiple search variations.
• Searching: These are run across Primo Search records.
• Top results ranked: AI filters and ranks the 30 most relevant results to pick the best five.
• Summary creation: The tool builds a brief overview using article abstracts and adds inline citations.
• Results delivered: You receive the summary and direct links to available sources.

After signing in to Primo Search, you can access the AI Research Assistant from the main menu bar at the top of the screen. You’ll also see an access option appear on the right side of the screen after performing a standard search.

To get the best results from the Primo Research Assistant, follow these simple tips:

• Ask clear, detailed questions: Focus on academic or scientific topics and be as specific as possible.
• Use question format: Phrase your query as a question or request.
• Avoid vague or broad topics: Specificity helps the assistant provide more accurate summaries.
• One question at a time: The assistant doesn't support follow-up questions; include all relevant details in your initial query.

Example Questions

Use the example questions below as a template to help you craft your own questions for the AI Research Assistant:

• How can we improve diversity in clinical trials?
• How does vitamin D deficiency impact overall health?
• How do corporate sustainability initiatives impact consumer purchasing decisions in the retail industry?
• In what ways do postcolonial authors reinterpret Western literary classics to challenge imperial narratives?

Considerations

• Content scope: The assistant uses metadata and abstracts from Primo Search only, excluding certain content types like news articles and materials from specific providers (e.g., JSTOR, Elsevier).
• Source availability: Some sources mentioned in the AI-generated answer may not be accessible through the Library. To find more relevant and available resources, select the "View more results from your library search" option.
• Textbooks and local resources: AI-generated answers may not include locally purchased resources like Library textbooks. For the most accurate results when looking for textbooks, search directly in Primo Search.
• Limitations: Currently, the assistant does not support follow-up questions or filters for specific resource types or publication dates.
• Search history: Previous queries are saved per session but may not persist after a page refresh or deep link access. 
• Will my data be stored and reused by the tool? No. Neither your input nor any licensed content is retained by the LLM after your session. They are only used for that immediate interaction and not stored or incorporated into the system’s memory, so each session starts fresh. 

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