How to Use Consensus

Getting started with Consensus

In this guide, you'll learn how to use Consensus to find and summarise evidence-based answers from peer-reviewed scientific papers. By the end, you’ll be able to efficiently search for academic information without getting lost in a sea of articles.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to Consensus.
2. Click on the "Sign Up" button in the top right corner.
3. Enter your email address and create a password, or sign up using Google for quicker access.
4. Confirm your email address through the link sent to your inbox.
5. Once logged in, you’ll have access to the free plan, which allows a limited number of searches.

Step 2: Your first search

1. On the main dashboard, locate the search bar at the top of the page.
2. Type in a specific question or topic you want to research, e.g., “What are the effects of caffeine on sleep?”
3. Press the "Search" button or hit Enter.
4. Review the summarised answers displayed, which will include key points from peer-reviewed papers.
5. Click on any of the answers to expand and read more detailed summaries and references.

Step 3: Get better results

1. To refine your search, use keywords that are specific to your topic.
2. If you’re looking for recent studies, check if there’s a filter option for publication date (if available).
3. Take advantage of the "Related Questions" feature that appears on the results page for broader insights.
4. Bookmark useful summaries by clicking the star icon to easily find them later.

Pro tip

Use Boolean operators like “AND,” “OR,” and “NOT” in your search queries to narrow down or expand your results quickly. For example, searching “caffeine AND sleep” will yield more targeted results.

Common mistake to avoid

Avoid making your search queries too broad. Instead of searching for “health effects,” specify the aspect you’re interested in, like “health effects of green tea,” to get more relevant answers.