| name | web-research |
| description | Web search, fact-checking, source verification, and information synthesis from online sources |
| metadata | {"version":"1.0.0","author":"HALO Core","tags":["research","web-search","fact-checking","information-retrieval"]} |
Web Research Skill
Use this skill when researching topics, verifying facts, or synthesizing information from web sources.
When to Use
- User asks for information about a topic
- Fact-checking claims or statements
- Finding current/recent information
- Comparing multiple sources
- Synthesizing information from web
Research Process
1. Search Strategy
- Identify key search terms
- Use appropriate sources (news, academic, general)
- Consider multiple search queries
- Look for authoritative sources
2. Source Evaluation
Assess each source for:
- Authority: Who wrote it? What organization?
- Currency: When was it published? Updated?
- Accuracy: Is it verifiable? Citations?
- Purpose: Informational? Opinion? Ad?
- Coverage: What aspects does it cover?
3. Information Synthesis
- Extract key facts from multiple sources
- Identify areas of consensus
- Note conflicting information
- Prioritize authoritative sources
4. Citation
Cite sources with:
- Title and author
- Publication date
- URL
- Access date (for dynamic content)
Source Types
| Type | Best For | Considerations |
|---|
| News | Current events | May lack analysis |
| Academic | Research, data | Peer review |
| Government | Statistics, policy | Authoritative |
| Expert blogs | Deep dives | May have bias |
| Wikipedia | Overview | Check references |
Best Practices
- Cross-reference multiple sources
- Prioritize primary sources
- Check publication dates
- Note author credentials
- Distinguish facts from opinions
- Acknowledge limitations in search
- Provide balanced coverage
