| name | deep-research |
| description | Comprehensive multi-source research workflow that goes beyond simple web search. Uses parallel search agents, source verification, cross-referencing, and structured reporting. Use when the user needs thorough research on any topic, market analysis, competitive intelligence, or academic literature review. |
| author | skills-sh |
| version | 1.0 |
| tags | ["research","analysis","deep-search","verification","multi-source"] |
Deep Research Skill
When to Use
- User needs comprehensive research, not just quick answers
- Market analysis, competitive intelligence, or industry trends
- Academic or technical literature review
- Fact-checking claims across multiple sources
- Any question requiring depth over speed
Research Workflow
Phase 1: Scope Definition
Before searching, clarify:
- Research question: What exactly needs to be answered?
- Depth level: Quick scan (3-5 sources), standard (8-12 sources), deep (15+ sources)
- Timeframe: Current only, historical, or both
- Source types: Academic, industry, news, primary data
- Output format: Summary, detailed report, comparison table
Phase 2: Parallel Search
Launch multiple search queries simultaneously:
- Broad query: General topic overview
- Specific queries: Targeted sub-questions
- Contrarian query: Opposing viewpoints or criticism
- Recent query: Latest developments (last 30 days)
- Authoritative query: Site: restricted to trusted domains
Phase 3: Source Triage
Evaluate each source:
| Criteria | Weight | Score (1-5) |
|---|
| Authority/credibility | 30% | _ |
| Recency | 20% | _ |
| Relevance to question | 30% | _ |
| Depth of coverage | 20% | _ |
Keep only sources scoring 3.5+ average.
Phase 4: Cross-Reference
- Verify key claims across at least 2 independent sources
- Flag contradictions between sources
- Note consensus vs. disputed points
- Identify gaps in available information
Phase 5: Structured Report
# Research Report: [Topic]
## Executive Summary
[2-3 paragraph overview of findings]
## Key Findings
1. [Finding 1] — Confidence: High/Medium/Low
2. [Finding 2] — Confidence: High/Medium/Low
...
## Detailed Analysis
### [Sub-topic 1]
[Analysis with source citations]
### [Sub-topic 2]
[Analysis with source citations]
## Contradictions & Gaps
- [What sources disagree on]
- [What information is missing]
## Sources
| # | Source | Type | Date | Credibility |
|---|--------|------|------|-------------|
| 1 | ... | ... | ... | High/Med/Low |
Best Practices
- Always search with multiple query formulations
- Verify factual claims across 2+ independent sources
- Explicitly state confidence level for each finding
- Note what you could NOT find (gaps are valuable data)
- Distinguish between facts, expert opinions, and speculation
- For market/industry data, always check original sources, not summaries
