research-methodology

name	research-methodology
description	Search and research workflow patterns. Research depth levels, source credibility assessment, multi-hop reasoning, search query formulation, and citation management. Use when conducting research, evaluating sources, or synthesizing findings.

research-methodology

Search and research workflow patterns.

how to use

• /research-methodology Apply these research standards to all investigation work in this conversation.

• /research-methodology <topic> Plan and execute a research workflow for the given topic.

when to apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• investigating unfamiliar technologies or APIs
• evaluating library or framework options
• conducting competitive or market research
• gathering requirements from multiple sources
• synthesizing findings into recommendations
• verifying claims or troubleshooting with external info

rule categories by priority

priority	category	impact
1	research planning	critical
2	search execution	critical
3	source assessment	high
4	synthesis	high
5	citation management	medium

quick reference

1. research planning (critical)

Depth levels (choose before starting):

Level	Time	Hops	Use When
Quick	1-2 queries	1	Known-answer lookup, single fact
Standard	3-5 queries	2-3	Compare options, understand a concept
Deep	5-10 queries	3-5	Architecture decisions, technology evaluation
Exhaustive	10+ queries	5+	Critical decisions, security analysis, compliance

Before searching:

• state the question precisely
• list what you already know
• identify knowledge gaps
• determine depth level
• set a scope boundary (what's NOT in scope)

2. search execution (critical)

Tool routing:

Need	Tool	When
Library docs	Context7	API signatures, usage patterns, version-specific info
Live web results	WebSearch	Current events, comparisons, community discussions
Specific page content	WebFetch	Reading a known URL, documentation page, GitHub README
Codebase patterns	Grep/Glob	How something is used in the current project

Query formulation:

• use specific terms over generic ones
• include version numbers when relevant
• add "vs" for comparisons, "best practices" for patterns
• quote exact error messages
• chain queries: broad first, then narrow based on results

Multi-hop reasoning:

1. Initial query establishes landscape
2. Follow-up queries drill into promising leads
3. Cross-reference findings across sources
4. Validate with official documentation
5. Verify currency (check dates)

3. source assessment (high)

Credibility hierarchy:

Tier	Source Type	Trust Level
1	Official documentation, RFCs, specifications	High
2	Peer-reviewed papers, reputable tech blogs (engineering blogs from known companies)	High
3	Stack Overflow (accepted + high-vote answers), GitHub issues/PRs	Medium-High
4	Tutorial sites, Medium articles, dev.to posts	Medium
5	Forum posts, social media, AI-generated content	Low

Red flags:

• no date or very old date (> 2 years for fast-moving tech)
• no author attribution
• contradicts official documentation
• promotes specific product without disclosure
• contains factual errors in verifiable claims

4. synthesis (high)

• lead with the answer, then provide evidence
• compare options with a structured table (pros/cons/tradeoffs)
• state confidence level: high (multiple confirming sources), medium (limited sources), low (single/conflicting sources)
• flag conflicting information explicitly
• separate facts from opinions
• provide actionable recommendations, not just summaries
• note what remains unknown

5. citation management (medium)

• link to sources inline where referenced
• provide a sources table for deep research: | Source | URL | Type | Date | Credibility |
• prefer permalinks over search result links
• note when information may become outdated
• distinguish primary sources from secondary references

anti-patterns

anti-pattern	problem	fix
searching without a plan	scattered, inefficient research	state question and depth level first
trusting first result	may be outdated or wrong	cross-reference with 2+ sources
ignoring dates	stale information	check publication date, prefer recent
over-researching	diminishing returns	set scope boundary and depth level
no source tracking	can't verify or revisit	maintain citation table