Loading learning content…
Loading learning content…
Use Perplexity's focus modes — academic, writing, math, video, and more — to get domain-appropriate results.
Read through the lesson, mark it complete when the concept is clear, then move to the next lesson in the sequence or jump back to the module map.
Perplexity offers specialized focus modes that restrict or prioritize specific source types. Instead of searching the entire web, a focus mode searches a curated subset optimized for your research context.
All (default) — Searches the full web. Good general-purpose starting point.
Academic — Prioritizes peer-reviewed papers, preprints, and academic publications via sources like PubMed, arXiv, and Semantic Scholar. Use for literature reviews, scientific claims, and medical questions.
Writing — Optimized for content creation research. Returns editorial content, long-form articles, and authoritative blog posts rather than news or academic papers.
Video — Searches YouTube transcripts. Excellent for finding specific information in technical talks, tutorials, or conference presentations.
Social — Searches Reddit, Twitter/X, and discussion forums. Use for understanding community sentiment, finding authentic user opinions, or discovering niche conversations.
Math — Uses Wolfram Alpha and computational sources. Returns equations, derivations, and numerical answers rather than explanations.
| Research Goal | Best Focus Mode |
|---|---|
| Scientific evidence | Academic |
| Market sentiment | Social |
| Blog content ideas | Writing |
| Conference presentations | Video |
| Financial calculations | Math |
| General company info | All |
For claims that need evidence: switch to Academic focus and ask for peer-reviewed evidence. This is invaluable when you need to cite sources in reports or validate claims before presenting to leadership.
Example: "Academic: What does peer-reviewed research say about AI's impact on knowledge worker productivity?"
Social focus is underused for business research. Try:
"Social: What are SaaS founders on Reddit saying about their biggest pricing mistakes?"
You get authentic community insights, not polished marketing content.