Consensus

Consensus, from Consensus. Asking a research question and seeing what the peer-reviewed literature says, with sources.

What it does well

• Yes/no questions with a research literature behind them, like “Does sleep deprivation affect memory?”
• Getting a quick map of the evidence before a deeper search
• Finding highly cited and recent studies on a topic

What it does poorly

• Questions with no published research
• Treating the summary meter as a verdict on the science
• Fields where key work is in books rather than journals

What makes it different

Answers only from academic papers, and shows how many studies lean each way on a yes/no question.

Quick start

1. Ask a question phrased the way a study would test it.
2. Look at the list of papers, not only the summary. Note study types and sample sizes.
3. Open two papers that disagree and read their methods sections.
4. Save the papers to your reference manager and cite them directly.

Strengths and limits

• Strength: Paper-only answers
• Strength: Clear citations
• Strength: Fast orientation in a new area
• Limit: Summaries flatten nuance
• Limit: Doesn't weigh study quality the way a systematic review does
• Limit: Limited free searches for advanced features

Privacy

Low risk: you're searching published work. Avoid pasting unpublished findings into questions.

Academic integrity

A starting point for a literature search, not a substitute. Cite the studies you actually read.