Smart Research Training: Developing 21st-Century Investigative Skills Through Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

The research aimed to strengthen students' investigative competencies and transform training processes through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). A program was developed to train students in the use of AI tools, promoting an understanding of their principles and fostering critical thinking for their application in research. Investigative processes were transformed by using AI to optimize repetitive tasks and analyze large volumes of data, identifying patterns and trends. The study evaluated various AI tools and incorporated them into research-related courses. An evaluation battery was designed to measure investigative competence, applying descriptive statistics to characterize participants' competence levels. The most applicable AI tools were SciSpace, Consensus, and Claude, used for data management, decision-making, and scientific article writing. The results of the pilot program showed a significant improvement in investigative competencies, with 83.27% of students reaching a high level of competence. It was concluded that the integration of AI has great potential to transform research, although it should be accompanied by ethical and social reflection on the impact of these technologies.