Back in the 1990s I used to teach a subject called The Methodology of Scientific Research to my university students. I tried to help them develop the skill of using a certain sequence of steps (which I called universal) for writing research papers of any size and complexity. A student raised his hand once and asked: “If you call your approach universal, it should be applied to any research — good and bad, right? Then, why don’t we take a stupid topic and and apply the approach to it? We can get a very humorous and absurd, yet well-written research paper, right?”

Well, I agreed to play the game and gave my group an absurd topic then. We decided to write a doctorate thesis named “A Study of Efficiency of Cooking Eggs on Irons in a University Dormitory.” Before the end of the class, we managed to put together a great research plan, formulate methodology set and agreed on all basic elements of the thesis.

I used to repeat the exercise with many groups of students afterwards. Every time they grew excited about doing something humorous and brainstormed the research method with great enthusiasm. The method is based on a very simple logic of a) selecting a set of keywords, b) giving them degrees of importance for the goal of particular research, and c) using them in a certain mode at every step of the research.

Today, when intelligent technology has confidently entered our lives and found its place practically in every kitchen, the necessity to use universal methodology of working with information (read: keywords) has also become universal. Every day I hear people say: “Both Google and ChatGPT keep giving me wrong answers!”

Well, my dear friends, I have a feeling that in most cases, the answers quality would be much higher if the requests had been formulated in a proper way.

So, this morning I conducted a little research again: I asked Google and ChatGPT to advise me on how I should ask them questions in order to acquire the most complete and precise answers. Below, is the list of recommendations which I received from Google search system and from ChatGPT. Let us try using them in practice. Hopefully, following the recommendations will help many of us develop the skill of effective communication with search machines.

Enjoy!

1. How to Ask Google Search Questions

Google is best for finding facts, data, or specific information. Use keywords strategically to narrow down your results.

Tips:

• Use Specific Keywords: Use precise terms rather than general words. For example, instead of asking “best foods for healthy sport trainings,” try “high-protein foods for muscle growth.”
• Use Quotation Marks for Exact Phrases: To search for an exact phrase, place it within quotation marks, e.g., “global warming effects on agriculture.”
• Use Minus (-) to Exclude Terms: To exclude words, use a minus sign. For example, “baking recipes -bread” shows recipes that exclude bread.
• Utilize Advanced Search Operators:
  • site: restricts results to a specific site. “site.gov vaccines”
  • filetype: finds a specific file format, e.g., “AI white paper filetype”
  • intitle: searches for keywords in titles, e.g., “intitlechange report”
• Pose Questions with Context: When applicable, add a location or timeframe for more relevant results. For example, “best budget smartphones 2024 in the US.”

Example Queries:

• “How to improve battery life in Android 13?”
• “site.org child vaccination statistics 2023”
• “dog training tips -barking” (for general training tips, excluding barking)

2. How to Ask ChatGPT Questions

ChatGPT excels at understanding context, providing explanations, generating ideas, and summarizing complex information. It’s conversational, so you can ask follow-up questions for clarity.

Tips:

• Use Complete Sentences and Be Direct: State your question or request directly. For example, “Summarize the key points of the Kyoto Protocol.”
• Request Specific Formats: If you need lists, steps, or tables, mention the format. For instance, “List 5 key benefits of remote work in a table.”
• Provide Context: Include relevant background information. For example, “In the context of climate change, what are the major benefits of renewable energy?”
• Use Follow-Up Questions: ChatGPT can refine answers based on follow-up questions, so don’t hesitate to ask for clarification or more detail if needed.
• Ask for Examples or Explanations: If you’re learning a concept, ask for examples. E.g., “Explain machine learning with an example of image recognition.”
• State Your Intent: If you’re using the answer for a particular purpose, like study notes or a presentation, mention it. E.g., “Summarize the key themes of the novel 1984 for a class presentation.”

Example Queries:

• “Can you explain blockchain technology in simple terms?”
• “What are the main differences between renewable and non-renewable energy?”
• “For a beginner, what are the essential tools needed to start baking?”

Summary Table for Quick Reference

Platform	Purpose	Tips & Best Practices	Example Query
Google	Quick facts, specific information	Use keywords, quotes, and operators; add context	“top rated DSLR cameras 2023 reviews”
ChatGPT	Explanations, summaries, idea generation	Be direct, provide context, specify format, ask follow-ups	“Summarize the causes of the Great Depression in bullet points”

Combining these techniques can help you find detailed, relevant answers quickly and effectively on both Google and ChatGPT. I hope this article will help those who feel a bit depressed using Google and is only beginning to explore the capabilities of ChatGPT.

Please, leave your comments about your experiences with Google and ChatGPT below.