Activity 4.1: Beginning Your Formal Research

Step 1 • Understanding the Task

In this phase of your research, you will transition from general inquiry to formal evidence screening. Your goal is to determine if specific segments of text from your collected articles are relevant to your clearly stated research objective.

We will use a specialized "Relevance Checker" tool. This tool is not a chatbot; it is a constrained AI instrument designed to perform a single, auditable task: comparing an article segment against your research objective and providing a neutral assessment of its relevance.

Step 2 • Launch Relevance Checker

Use the link below to access the demonstration version of the Relevance Checker. Remember to have your Research Objective and an Article Segment ready to input.

🔬 Open Relevance Checker Tool

Step 3 • Practice Materials

To try out the tool, use the sample article provided below. You can copy segments of text from this PDF and test them against the research objectives listed below.

📄 Download Sample Article (PDF)

Sample Research Objectives

Try testing the article segments against these objectives. Some are directly supported by the text, while others are unrelated.

Does following a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts reduce the risk of stroke in high-risk populations?
How does the consumption of microplastics in commercial seafood affect the endocrine systems of young adults?
Is there a correlation between high glycemic index foods and the development of type 2 diabetes or mood disorders?
What are the economic impacts of government subsidies on the production of high-fructose corn syrup in the United States?
To what extent can a whole-food plant-based diet reduce mortality rates from cardiovascular disease?
What is the historical evolution of culinary techniques used in traditional French pastry making?

Answer Key:
Supported by this article: 1, 3, 5
Not supported by this article: 2, 4, 6