Broadening students’ perspectives on AI applications in writing research literature reviews

To equip students with a deeper academic perspective on applying artificial intelligence to writing research literature reviews, the Faculty of English held a workshop on the morning of March 11, 2026 titled “Beyond Synthesis: AI-assisted Literature Review as Intellectual Work.” The program was attended by the department leadership, faculty members, and many students interested in scientific research.
 
The workshop speaker was Mr. Nguyen Nhat Quang - Director of the Center for Languages and Technology, Saigon International University — who has extensive experience in language research, technology, and academic methodologies in the context of digital transformation.

 
The workshop helped students supplement their knowledge about writing literature reviews

At the event, the speaker clarified the concept of the literature review as an important stage in the research process. He emphasized that a literature review is not simply reading and summarizing sources, but a process of knowledge construction, in which the researcher must organize, evaluate, and connect works in order to develop an academic argument.
 
The workshop also provided a clear view of the structure of the literature review section for different types of research. For quantitative research, the literature review typically focuses on identifying relationships between variables and includes steps such as: reviewing previous empirical studies; identifying limitations, conflicts, or gaps in the literature; clarifying concepts and research variables; synthesizing research gaps; and developing a theoretical framework.

 
Mr. Nguyen Nhat Quang shared common mistakes when writing literature reviews

Meanwhile, mixed-methods research requires integration of quantitative and qualitative data, thereby forming the theoretical foundation and logical basis for combining the two approaches.
 
An important topic the speaker analyzed was how to identify the research gap, the key factor that determines the value of a study. He noted that a research gap is not merely an unstudied topic, but a well-founded argument about what has not been sufficiently investigated.
 
In the context of the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence, the workshop also discussed AI’s impact on research activity. According to the speaker, AI can help search for and synthesize literature more quickly, identify information patterns and research trends, and support the stages of collecting and screening sources.

 
Students concentrated on the presentation and participated in exchanges and activities to consolidate the knowledge they had heard
 

However, AI cannot replace the researcher’s scholarly thinking. The researcher’s core value still lies in the ability to assess the theoretical significance of works, analyze academic debates, and construct research arguments with logical coherence and depth.
 
Through illustrative examples and interactive activities, the workshop helped students better understand the process of producing a high-quality literature review — from searching academic databases, screening studies, and assessing source quality to organizing works by theme and identifying research gaps.
 
The workshop created an open academic exchange space among the speaker, faculty, and students, contributing to the enhancement of students’ research skills and critical thinking in an education and science environment that is rapidly changing alongside technological development.