ResearchAI glossary: what each word means and what it does

Use this page when a button or tab name is unclear. Each line is: name → meaning → what you do with it.

Starting and planning

• Project → your full research workspace → open it to do all later work.
• Discovery → title and type helper → use only when you still need a title.
• Projects page → list and create projects → use when the title is already known.
• Command Center / Command → stage board + AI structuring tools → Structure idea, Structure questions, track progress.
• Overview → editable project facts → permanently save questions, objectives, methods.
• Research idea → short statement of what the study is about → write or Structure idea first.
• Research question → what you want to find out → save 2–4 clear questions.
• Objective → action that answers a question → keep them matched to questions.
• Hypothesis → predicted answer → add only if your design needs testing.
• Methodology → how you will collect and analyse data → keep it realistic for your level.

Library and citations

• Literature → org document library → upload PDFs and texts to index them.
• Sources → project attachment list → attach or import papers for this project.
• Research OS Library → search + import + Zotero + library chat → get more papers and save finds.
• Import → bring a search hit into SciIntel → prefer Import + OA PDF when a free PDF exists.
• Research memory → saved discovers → park papers before full import.
• RAI key → internal citation code → appears as [RAI-000001] in drafts.
• Cite → insert a key into the manuscript → use in Research OS Write.
• Citation Explorer → look up and format keys → check which source a key points to.
• Zotero → external reference manager → Connect in Settings; Save to Zotero or Sync to project.

Writing and finishing

• Writing Studio → section editor → AI draft, Improve, Save, Export.
• Research OS Write → richer editor → Grounded draft, Continue here, Suggest next, Cite.
• Grounded draft → draft using attached evidence → needs sources first.
• Improve → rewrite style → clarity, academic tone, concise, or expand (not new evidence).
• Integrity → consistency / claim checks → run before you call the work finished.
• Review (Research OS) → integrity and source quality tools → same finishing mindset.
• Export → download your manuscript → DOCX/PDF/HTML/Markdown (and LaTeX in Research OS).
• Journals → venue shortlist helper → ideas only, not acceptance prediction.
• Submission → prep checklist and cover letter → tracks readiness; does not submit to publishers.
• Assistant → ask questions over your indexed docs → good for clarifying what a paper says.

If you remember only four places: Command (plan), Library/Sources (papers), Write (draft), Export + Integrity (finish).