Research Assignment
Context
• By now you likely have a few thought starters about your personal project; what you’re going to talk about and how.
• Before you get started though, we need to get up to speed quickly and round out your knowledge of the subject and its components so
that we can write an accurate proposal.
Task
• Gather data that will help you to reflect and plan for your project
• You want to set yourself up for success by having a robust understanding of what you are about to do.
Worth
• 5% of final grade.
AI Usage:
• Artificial Intelligence tools (e.g., Chat GPT, Grammarly, Canva Magic Write, etc.) are permitted for use in this assignment e.g., for writing
or re-phrasing content, image creation, or other uses.
• Use ChatGPT or Co-Pilot ([Link] to login)
Instructions
• Download a copy of this document to work with and complete Parts 1, and 2
• Do not change formatting (font, size, margins, bullets) or it won’t be marked.
Part 1: Data Gathering
Folder and Files
• Create a folder called “AI Data Gathering” on your computer or Google Drive, or other. This will be a repository for your data.
• Save copies of all AI queries / conversations that you have
• Try to use clear file naming conventions e.g.,:
o “Industry Trends”
o “Industry Best-Practices”
1
o “Target Audience”
Use AI to gather data about the following:
• Industry trends that are happening regarding your project topic/subject and product
o E.g., what trends are impacting/influencing your topic, such as the tourism industry? Consider pop culture, technology, media,
fashion, entertainment, health and fitness, etc.
o E.g., what trends are impacting/influencing your product, such as AI automation?
• Industry best-practices for the development of your project
o E.g., what are the best practices for developing an enewsletter campaign, digital IMC, a website and chatbot, etc.
• Target audience
o Consider starting with the target audience profile that you used in the previous assignments
o E.g., explore the target audience’s characteristics by considering age, lifestyle, interests, values, beliefs, frustrations or pain
points, shopping behaviours, media habits and media usage, brand affinity
o E.g., provide specific examples for each characteristic
• Recommendation for technology, tools, and applications that you can use for your project
o E.g., what technology, tools, and applications would be required or suggested for this type of project.
o E.g., Are they free? Are they easy to use?
• Outline the steps and time required for each step to complete the development of your product
o E.g., what are the steps to create an enewsletter campaign, digital IMC, a website and chatbot, etc.
o E.g., how much time is required to execute each step, with or without the help of AI, with or without extra time to accommodate
for digital literacy, language needs, learning needs.
Prompting AI
• Consider telling AI what you are trying to do and ask it to ask you questions before it carries out the tasks.
• Consider researching prompts strategies
• Consider exploring existing prompts – examples.
PART 2: Validation & Reflection
• Provide a picture below of your folder and the documents within it.
Picture of “AI Data Gathering” Folder:
2
Picture of files about: industry trends, industry best practices, target
audience, recommendations, steps and time:
• VALIDATION: AI is known to make mistakes. As such, validate 5 facts that AI provided by filling out the table below.
Drawing from the data that AI Using a browser, e.g., Google, Provide a screen grab where the new
provided to you, what is the find a new resource that resource validates the AI fact.
most critical or inspirational validates the fact that AI
fact that might inform your provided.
project? One for each the
categories you researched. Below, provide the Title of the
article, embed a hyperlink to
it, and include the source.
e.g., Title of Article (Forbes)
Industry Trends
Industry Best-Practices
Target Audience
Technology, Tools,
and Applications
Steps and Time
• REFLECTION: Take a moment to reflect on the research process
o If needed, you can use AI to help with spelling, grammar, and paraphrasing, but YOUR voice should still come through.
o Spelling and grammar will not be marked.
3
Questions Responses
Did your research unlock any “aha” moments or reveal any critical
information about your project? If yes, then what? If not, then why
not? Respond in 2-3 sentences.
What struggles or hurdles did you encounter during your research
phase? Was there something specific that you were hoping to find
out? Respond in 2-3 sentences.
Do you feel that you have enough information to write an informed
project proposal?
• Yes, why?
• No, why not?
• Respond in 2-3 sentences.
If you had had more time, what would you research and why?
Respond in 2-3 sentences.
Looking back on your Defining the Problem Assignment, has anything
changed or evolved?
• If something changed or evolved, what was it and why is this
the case?
• If nothing changed or evolved because of your research, why
is that the case?
• Respond in 2-3 sentences.
What will likely be the first few tasks you do to start your project?
Respond in 2-3 sentences.
Submission
• Submit your responses in this Word document to Brightspace.
Marking Schemes
• Please see the rubric in Brightspace for details about how you will be evaluated.
4
External Trend Scan Prompts
Use these to uncover trends, behaviors, and inspiration
Research Goal Example Prompts
“What surprising [Target audience(s)] trends are emerging in 2025?”
Find cultural trends
“What social causes are gaining traction with [Target audience(s)] this year?”
“What movies, books, or shows are influencing online conversation this month?”
Media & entertainment insights
“What fictional characters or memes are popular among [Target Audience(s)]?”
“What kind of TikTok or YouTube content is trending with [Target Audience(s)]?”
Explore content shifts
“How are influencers talking about wellness/fashion/tech in 2025?”
Get niche inspiration “What’s a lesser-known trend or product innovation in [unrelated industry] that could inspire a new project?”
Spot contradictions “What’s a surprising contradiction in how Gen Z shop vs. what they say they care about?”
Remember, don’t just take the first response. It’s a conversation. Ask more questions. Dig Deeper.