How to research a question with sources using Perplexity

What you need

• A device with an internet connection. Perplexity searches the internet in real time, so it needs one to find current sources [1].
• Access to Perplexity, the answer engine described in its own guide [1].
• A question you genuinely want answered. This guide uses an everyday example of planning a trip.
• A notes document or notebook, so you can record the sources you check.

Step by step

1. Ask a specific question. Perplexity works best with precise questions. A single broad word such as ‘Nutrition’ gives a vague result, while a full question gets a more direct answer. Example: you are planning a trip to Lisbon and ask, ‘What is the best time of year to visit Lisbon for mild weather?’

2. Read the answer. Read the whole response before deciding whether it helps. Notice which parts are clear and which parts seem uncertain.

3. Click a citation. Every answer includes clickable citations. Click a link within the response to open the source and confirm the detail for yourself [1].

4. Ask a follow-up question. Perplexity remembers your earlier questions in the same conversation, so you do not need to start again. Example: after the Lisbon answer, ask, ‘How do the costs of visiting in spring compare with visiting in autumn?’ [1]

5. Narrow the sources with Focus. Use the Focus feature to target a type of source. For a school or academic task, choose ‘Academic’ to prioritise peer-reviewed journals and scholarly articles [1].

6. Turn on Pro Search for a deeper answer. When you need a more thorough result, toggle on Pro Search. It breaks your question into smaller steps and draws on a broader range of sources [1].

7. Save your findings. Copy the key points and the source links you checked into your notes. Write down which claims you confirmed by opening a source and which you have not yet checked.

Tips and common mistakes

• Do not stop at the first answer. Follow-up questions often reveal different angles on the same topic [1].
• Do not trust a citation you have not opened. A link in the response is a starting point. Open it and check that it supports the claim.
• Avoid vague questions. If the answer seems off-topic, rewrite your question with more detail.
• Match the focus to your task. If you are writing a research paper, the Academic option is worth trying. For a quick everyday fact, the default search may be enough.
• Do not mix up a summary with a source. The answer is a summary. The cited page is where the evidence lives.

Here is a copyable prompt you can adapt:

Research question: What are the main health benefits of a Mediterranean diet? Please give a short answer and point me to the sources you used so I can check them.

Use it responsibly

• Check every answer. AI answers can be wrong or out of date. Open the citations, compare them and look for the original source where possible.
• Protect your privacy. Never paste private data into a question, such as personal details, passwords, bank information, or confidential work or school documents.
• Keep your account secure. Use a strong, unique password for your account and do not share your login with others.
• Follow the rules. Check your workplace or school policy on using AI tools and sources, and follow Perplexity’s own terms of service. If a teacher asks for sources, cite the original documents you read, not just the answer summary.
• Use the output as a starting point. Your own judgement and the sources you verify matter more than any single answer.