Abstract
The past decade has seen efforts to digitalise, standardise and automate research processes, with particular emphasis on core organisational activities such as management of research data, administration, and planning. Artificial Intelligence (AI) could offer some useful insights with regards to widely encountered pressures in research, such as increasing administrative demand, growing data requirements, and tighter regulations on research activities. Technological advances, including AI, are becoming widely used in commercial and business sectors but remain to be harnessed in research, with funders and institutions only now beginning to explore the utility of AI, and investing in AI to determine how they can ethically benefit from these technological advances. With a recent increase in the use of generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, in academic writing and grant applications, organisations in the UK are beginning to respond and calling for evidence on the benefits and drawbacks of using AI for research-focused activities. There is a need for better understanding of what AI is, what it isn't, its implications for funders, and where it may have potential benefit for funders' administrative and research management (RMA) processes.
Aim
The aim of the scoping review is to map the available evidence on AI, how it has been used and how it can be used to benefit research through the activities mentioned. Broadly, the review will answer the following questions:
1. What does the evidence say/ where is the evidence?
2. What is already being done in research funding?
3. Where could AI add most benefit and where is it most needed?
4. What AI solutions are available and potentially beneficial to funders?
Intended Impact of the Study
TBC
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Keywords
Research Area(s)
Other Areas: artificial intelligence in research
Study Design(s)
Other Designs: Scoping review
Data Collection Method(s)
Participant(s)
Other Participants: N/A
Status
Expected completion date: April 30, 2024
Stage
Study Funding/Support
Dissemination Activity/Activities
Other(s): TBC