LSC 100: Life Sciences Communication: Science and Storytelling (Spring 2025) : Finding Sources

Our original research topic was: What are some ways that artificial intelligence is impacting society?

By reading a non-scholarly article, we were able to identify some potential narrowed research topics:

• Digital divide & access to AI 
• AI use in healthcare
• Energy consumption of AI
• Policy & regulation of AI

Let's focus on the use of AI in healthcare. Our narrowed research topic is: How is AI being used in healthcare to improve patient outcomes?

To find sources, use the Libraries' article databases:

1. Start at the UW-Madison Libraries homepage.
2. Select the word 'Catalog' above the large search box. This will open a drop-down menu.
3. Select 'Databases' from the drop-down menu.
4. Select the 'Introductory Databases' link under the search box.
5. Select Academic Search from the list of databases and their subject areas. 

The resources listed below may be helpful as you're searching for articles:

Using the Academic Search database, we can start our searching by typing in the keywords: (AI OR 'artificial intelligence') AND healthcare

Notice the subject terms that come up on articles in these results:

• “generative artificial intelligence”, “artificial intelligence in medicine”
• “Medical care”, “medical informatics”, “health policy”

We can use these subject terms to revise a new search to find new and different articles! A revised search might be: 'artificial intelligence in medicine' AND 'medical care'

Here are some tips for revising your searches:

• Subject terms are tags that organize articles on the same topic.
  • AI OR 'artificial intelligence' OR 'generative AI' OR 'ChatGPT'
• Broaden & narrow using synonyms and subject terms
  • AI OR 'artificial intelligence'
  • AND policy
• Use the list of references in scholarly articles to find additional sources.

1. To find the full text of an article, look for a full text link on the database page. 
2. If there is not a full text link directly from the database page, click on the red 'Find it at UW-Madison' link. This searches all of the Libraries' databases to see if we have the full text, and if so, provide links to those databases.
3. If it's still not available, there will be a link to request a copy. A librarian will find the article and send it to you for free!

Books often provide background and comprehensive information about a topic.

Still deciding on a topic? Or you have a topic and you're trying to identify arguments? Opposing Viewpoints provides overview information, especially related to current issues.

Need help?

or click for more options ...