Inside the Numbers: How ProQuest Research Assistant Is Powering Smarter Research
It has been a year since Clarivate launched ProQuest Research Assistant, an AI-powered tool designed to make research smarter, faster, and more engaging. Integrated into premium products on the ProQuest platform— including ProQuest Central, one of the world’s largest and most widely used research databases—it’s transforming how users discover and engage with information.
Built in collaboration with the academic community, ProQuest Research Assistant uses responsible, transparent AI to help students and researchers tackle everyday challenges: finding relevant information, evaluating sources efficiently, and exploring new topics with confidence.
Since its launch in September 2024, ProQuest Research Assistant has continued to evolve in step with user needs. We recently added visualizations that display a document’s main topics and subtopics as a mind map, allowing users to explore each in more detail. Our latest update enables users to ask questions about a document and get answers directly from its content, keeping the experience grounded in trusted sources. The feature supports multiple languages, advancing ProQuest Research Assistant’s mission to make reliable, context-aware AI accessible to learners everywhere.
ProQuest Research Assistant has become an integral part of the research workflow. In just twelve months, more than 470,000 unique users across 4,000 institutions have tried at least one AI feature on the document page—resulting in nearly 2 million interactions. These numbers are impressive, but what’s even more revealing is how students and researchers are using the tool in practice. Informed by click data and in-app feedback, we’ve identified five key insights into how this AI-powered assistant is shaping user behavior and enriching the research experience.
- Supporting exploration, leading to deeper research
Users who see ProQuest Research Assistant on the document page are 31% more likely to start scrolling. Instead of acting as a shortcut, it serves as a launchpad, encouraging users to dive into the source material.
“I needed something specific of this document and the research assistant informed me that it was, in fact, there.”
- Sparking engagement, not just curiosity
When ProQuest Research Assistant is visible, users are 40% more likely to take meaningful actions with the document—such as citing, downloading, or saving a document. It helps bridge the gap between discovery and action.
“The short explanation of the key ideas enabled me to determine if this article will fit with what I am exploring.”
- Turning engagement into deeper action with AI-generated overviews
Users who click Show more on the Key Takeaway are 76% more likely to take meaningful actions with the document. Engaging with AI overviews in ProQuest Research Assistant doesn’t replace research; it motivates users to delve into the content.
“It helped me by reading the themes of the article, so when I go back over the full article, I already have a sense of the contents.”
- Building habitual use
Users who engage with this tool show 70% higher stickiness, meaning they return to the platform more often. ProQuest Research Assistant isn’t just assisting with one-off tasks; it’s becoming part of ongoing research workflows.
“Greatest feature to gain quick insight so I can then search for further information where needed.”
- Enhancing the research experience with trusted content
Feedback on ProQuest Research Assistant is overwhelmingly positive, with 85% of clicks showing satisfaction. Most feedback comes from quick thumbs-up or thumbs-down ratings, supplemented by a short survey triggered within the research assistant panel.
“It helped me evaluate the document; it is accurate, concise and clear and saved me time.”
More than a tool — a research partner
Usage data from ProQuest Research Assistant shows that this solution can do more than simplify tasks, it actively enhances the research experience. By guiding users into content, prompting meaningful engagement, and building trust through reliable insights, ProQuest Research Assistant has proven to be a true partner in academic research. Its AI features amplify traditional research methods, helping students and researchers explore and act more efficiently.
As academic AI continues to evolve, so too does our commitment to support deeper, more productive research.
Learn more about how ProQuest Research Assistant is enhancing responsible AI practices in academic research at https://clarivate.com/ai/academia/
About the data: Our analysis looks at a 30-day period (20 August to 18 September), comparing usage where ProQuest Research Assistant was shown on the document view versus where it was not.
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