research

name	research
description	Research workflow — use when asked to research a topic, investigate options, compare approaches, or find the best solution. For high-stakes or complex questions, use deep-research instead.

Research Workflow

Lifecycle: clarify, decompose, search, summarize, corroborate, synthesize.

Step 1: Clarify

Ask the user:

• What specifically are we trying to learn?
• What constraints matter (language, framework, scale)?
• Any sources they already know about?

Restate the research question precisely. Don't proceed until clear.

Step 2: Decompose

Break into 3-5 sub-questions with explicit retrieval goals:

• Each targets a DIFFERENT angle (definition, evidence, criticism, alternatives, recency)
• Include at least one query seeking disconfirming evidence or criticism
• No two queries should return the same results

Step 3: Search

Execute all sub-question searches. Collect titles, URLs, key snippets.

Step 4: Summarize Sources

For the 3-5 most promising URLs, fetch and summarize into 3-5 key claims with source attribution. Do NOT carry raw page content forward.

Step 5: Corroborate

For each key claim:

• CONFIRMED (2+ independent sources agree)
• UNCORROBORATED (only 1 source)
• CONTESTED (sources disagree)

Escalation Check

Ask the user to upgrade to deep research if:

• 3+ CONTESTED claims
• High-stakes domain (security, architecture, compliance)
• Most claims are UNCORROBORATED

Never auto-escalate — always ask first.

Step 6: Follow-Up

For UNCORROBORATED or CONTESTED claims, run one targeted search to confirm or resolve. Loop up to 2 times.

Step 7: Synthesize

## Research: {question}

### Direct Answer
{clear answer}

### Key Findings
- CONFIRMED: {claim} — [source1], [source2]
- UNCORROBORATED: {claim} — [source]
- CONTESTED: {claim} — sources disagree

### Tradeoffs
{comparison between approaches}

### Recommendation
{what to do and why, with confidence level}

Rules

• Clarify before searching
• Summarize immediately — never carry raw content forward
• Track corroboration status for every claim
• Surface contradictions explicitly
• Cite sources for every finding