How to Use Elicit

Getting started with Elicit

In this guide, you'll learn how to quickly set up Elicit and perform your first literature review. You'll be able to extract key findings from academic papers and synthesise evidence efficiently.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to elicit.com.
2. Click on the "Sign up" button in the top right corner.
3. Choose the free plan by entering your email and creating a password, or sign up using Google.
4. Confirm your email address if prompted.
5. Once logged in, you’ll see the Elicit dashboard.

Step 2: Your first literature review

1. Click on the "New Project" button on the dashboard.
2. Name your project and select a research question to focus on.
3. In the project overview, click “Add Studies” to search for papers. Use keywords related to your research question.
4. Select relevant studies from the search results by checking the boxes next to them, then click “Add Selected” at the bottom right.
5. Once studies are added, click on each study title to open it. Use the "Extract" button to pull out key findings, methods, and results.
6. Elicit will generate a summary table of the findings you’ve extracted. You can further edit and organise this information as needed.

Step 3: Get better results

• Use the "Filters" option to refine your search results by publication date, study type, or specific journals. This will help you find the most relevant studies.
• Consider using the "Synthesis" feature to combine findings across multiple studies. Click on "Synthesis" in your project and follow the prompts to create summaries that highlight trends and gaps in the research.

Pro tip

Use the “Bookmark” feature to save studies that you find particularly useful. This allows you to quickly return to important papers without having to search for them again.

Common mistake to avoid

Avoid adding too many studies at once. Start with a smaller, focused set of papers to ensure you can manage and effectively synthesise the findings without feeling overwhelmed.