| name | scholarflow-literature-search |
| description | Use when a researcher needs a traceable academic literature search, evidence screening, citation verification, or a reproducible search strategy. |
ScholarFlow Literature Search
Use this skill when the user needs scholarly evidence, not a broad web summary.
Availability and Optional MCP
This skill works without a local MCP server. Use available browser or web tools
and public scholarly sources such as Crossref, PubMed, and arXiv. Do not call a
named MCP tool unless it is visible in the active environment.
An optional local MCP server adds concurrent Crossref, PubMed, and arXiv search
tools for Claude Code. Its setup, operating-system requirements, and optional
provider credentials are documented in README.md. Scopus and
ScienceDirect require the user's own authorized provider credentials; they are
never assumed to be available.
Start With The Question
Before searching, establish the smallest useful brief:
- research question or claim to support;
- field, population, system, or intervention;
- publication window and allowed evidence types;
- whether the user needs discovery, verification, a systematic search strategy, or a citation file.
If a missing item would materially change the result, ask one focused question. Otherwise state the assumption and proceed.
Load The Right Guidance
Read manifest.yaml, then load every item under always_load.
Choose the matching workflow entry:
multi-source-search for discovery across databases;citation-verification for checking a known paper or DOI;mesh-strategy for a reproducible PubMed-style query;citation-file-mgmt or reference-mgmt for a clean reference handoff.
Read only the corresponding files in static/. Use references/ only when the selected workflow needs deeper source-specific guidance.
Evidence Rules
- Prefer original studies, official databases, and publisher metadata over snippets or aggregators.
- Record a stable identifier for every included item: DOI, PMID, accession, or publisher URL.
- Separate direct evidence, background context, and unverified leads.
- Never invent a citation, bibliographic field, result, sample size, or conclusion.
- Say when an abstract-only record, paywall, date limit, or database coverage limits confidence.
Return A Search Record
Return concise sections in this order:
- Search scope: question, sources, dates, and eligibility rules.
- Search strategy: exact query strings or a reproducible query template.
- Included evidence: citation, identifier, why it is relevant, and evidence role.
- Excluded or uncertain leads: only when it helps prevent a mistaken conclusion.
- Coverage limits: what the search cannot establish.
- Next action: the smallest useful follow-up, such as full-text screening or citation export.
Do not present a literature search as exhaustive unless the databases, dates, screening criteria, and stopping rule are explicit.
