| name | research-synthesis |
| category | kumite-task |
| description | Synthesize multiple sources into a single point of view with traceable citations. Use for competitive analyses, policy reviews, market scans, due-diligence summaries. Triggers: "synthesize these sources", "what's the takeaway across…", "build the matrix", "compare these reports". |
Research Synthesis
Synthesis ≠ summary. A synthesis takes a position. A summary repeats.
Quick Reference (the synthesis pipeline)
| Step | Output |
|---|
| 1. List sources | 3–10 sources, each named |
| 2. Extract per source | Claim · evidence · date · confidence |
| 3. Synthesis matrix | Rows = themes, cols = sources, cells = each source's view |
| 4. Synthesis paragraph | Where they agree, disagree, contradict |
| 5. So-what | What the reader should do differently |
When to Use
- Competitive analyses, market scans, policy reviews, due-diligence.
- When 3+ sources need a single point of view.
- When the reader needs a recommendation, not a literature review.
How to Use
- List sources up front (3–10 is the sweet spot).
- Ask Copilot to extract, per source: claim, evidence, date, confidence.
- Then ask for a synthesis matrix: rows = themes, cols = sources, cells = what each source says.
- Then ask for the synthesis paragraph: where do sources agree, disagree, contradict?
- Then ask for the so-what: what should the reader do given the synthesis?
Every claim in the final output cites which source supports it.
Examples
| Don't: Summary masquerading as synthesis | Do: Real synthesis |
|---|
| "All four reports agree growth is slowing." | "Reports A, B agree on slowing; C disagrees citing different methodology; synthesis: directionally slowing, magnitude contested." |
| No so-what | "So-what: hold off the Q4 expansion plan until the C methodology is replicated." |
| No matrix; conclusions invented | Matrix attached; every cell traceable |
| Skipping disagreement | Disagreement is signal — name it |
Critical Rules
- Synthesis takes a position. No position = no synthesis.
- Every claim cites which source. Inline.
- Disagreement is signal. Don't paper over it.
- The so-what is mandatory. What does the reader do differently?
- Matrix is reproducible. A second analyst with the same sources should land within 90% of the same matrix.
Citation Discipline
Every factual claim in the final output is one of:
- Direct quote — verbatim from a source, in quotes, with section / page reference.
- Paraphrase with cite — your wording, source named inline, link to the artifact.
- Synthesis claim — your inference across multiple sources, labeled as such ("Synthesis: "), and reproducible from the matrix.
No fourth category. If a claim doesn't fit one of the three, it's a guess — cut it or downgrade it to an open question.
See cite-your-sources for the canonical citation format.
Hook & So-What Discipline
A synthesis that opens with "This document covers…" gets skipped. Force these two beats:
- Hook (first 2 sentences): the single most consequential finding, stated in the reader's vocabulary, with the magnitude. Not the methodology.
- So-what (closing paragraph): what the reader should do differently on Monday because of this synthesis. If there's nothing to do, the synthesis isn't done.
Ask Copilot for these two beats separately from the body — they need different prompting and different review.
Common Pitfalls
- Synthesizing without naming the sources first.
- Letting Copilot invent agreement that isn't there.
- Synthesis with no recommendation — that's a literature review.
- Skipping the matrix — it's the audit trail.
- Hook that opens with methodology instead of finding.
Anti-Patterns
- Synthesizing without naming the sources first.
- Letting Copilot invent agreement that isn't there. Disagreement is signal.
- Synthesis with no recommendation. That's a literature review.
- Treating Copilot's first-pass synthesis as the synthesis.
Verify Before Sending
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