sub-question-generation

name	sub-question-generation
description	SOP: Decompose a main research question into independently answerable sub-questions
version	1.0.0
category	hypothesis-formation
type	sop
campaign	research-question
input	Main research question (RQ)
output	Sub-question list + independence argument
dependencies	{"skills":["subagent-spawning"]}

Sub-Question Generation

Decompose a main research question into independently answerable sub-questions.

HARD-GATE

Input must contain: 1 main research question that is confirmed appropriately scoped but high in complexity.

Pipeline

1. Precheck: Does the main RQ truly need decomposition (complexity judgment)
2. Dimension identification: Identify the independent dimensions within the main RQ
3. Decomposition strategy selection: By causality / variable / condition / hierarchy / temporal order
4. Sub-question generation: Generate a sub-question for each dimension
5. MECE check: Mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive
6. Independence argument: Each sub-question can be studied independently
7. Coverage check: Combined sub-question answers = main question answer
8. Output: Sub-question list + independence argument + coverage argument

Output Format

Main RQ: [main question]
Decomposition strategy: [selected decomposition strategy]
Sub-questions:
  1. [sub-question 1] — Independence: [argument]
  2. [sub-question 2] — Independence: [argument]
  ...
MECE check: PASS/FAIL
Coverage check: PASS/FAIL