web-research

name	web-research
description	Gather, vet, and cite sources for a research question. Use when answering factual questions, comparing options, or producing an evidence-backed write-up.

Web research

A repeatable loop for turning a question into a well-sourced answer.

1. Frame the question

• Restate the question in one sentence and list the concrete sub-questions that, once answered, fully address it.
• Decide what kinds of sources count as authoritative for this topic (papers, standards, official docs, reputable reporting).

2. Gather

• Collect several independent sources per sub-question. Favor primary sources over commentary, and recent material over stale material.
• For each source, capture: title, author/publisher, date, URL, and the specific claim you are taking from it.

3. Vet

• Check who published it and when, whether it is primary or secondary, and whether other independent sources corroborate the claim.
• Discard or down-weight sources you cannot verify; note the gap explicitly.

4. Synthesize and cite

• Compare sources, reconcile or surface disagreements, and separate established facts from open questions.
• Cite every non-obvious claim. Use format_citation for consistent references and collect them in a references section.

Quality bar

• Every factual claim is traceable to a cited source.
• Confidence and gaps are stated plainly.
• The answer leads with the conclusion, then the evidence.