How Idea Radar works

Idea Radar is a free research-discovery tool for social-science researchers. Compare an English or Chinese research idea with indexed conference papers, explore related work and develop evidence-linked research directions.

Sources and coverage

The library includes indexed 2026 records from APSA, ICA, EPSS, ECPR General Conference, ASSA / AEA, ACM FAccT and AAAI ICWSM. It covers political science, communication, economics and interdisciplinary work on AI and society. Coverage is limited to the records available in the library, not every paper at each conference. The live library shows current counts and original source links.

Conference abstracts describe preliminary or ongoing research. They are not necessarily peer-reviewed journal articles, and an abstract is not a substitute for reading the full paper. Idea Radar is an independent tool, not an official service of these conferences.

Method: hybrid retrieval and linked evidence

1. Describe your research question, cases, mechanism or method.
2. Semantic vector search and PostgreSQL full-text search retrieve related records. Reciprocal Rank Fusion combines the rankings.
3. An AI model synthesizes a literature review and possible research directions from the retrieved evidence.
4. Author–year–conference citations link to related paper cards. Check the abstract and original source before relying on a claim.

A retrieval score is a ranking signal, not a probability or a measure of scientific quality. Missing a topic in this corpus does not establish that it is globally novel. AI-generated synthesis can contain errors; verify important claims and bibliographic details.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pay or register?

You can run an analysis without an account or a subscription. Register to save papers and conversations. Operational rate limits can apply. Voluntary support is available through Buy Me a Coffee.

Can I use Chinese research questions?

Yes. The interface and analysis support English and Chinese, including Chinese questions matched to English-language conference evidence.

Can I provide my own material?

The analysis composer accepts PDF, Markdown and text attachments. Follow the current file and size limits displayed in the interface. Attach only material you have permission to use.

Does this replace a systematic literature review?

No. It is a discovery aid over a bounded conference corpus, not an exhaustive literature search. Complement it with disciplinary databases, full papers and your own assessment.

How do I suggest a conference?

Use Submit a Program to suggest a public program URL. Submissions are reviewed before any records enter the production corpus.