| name | research-mode |
| description | Use when the user asks to enable research mode, turn research mode on/off, require citations, fact-check claims, review technical specifications, or work where source grounding and anti-hallucination constraints matter. Inputs - research question, documents or sources to inspect, citation expectations, and whether mode should persist. Do not use when the task is creative brainstorming, drafting fiction, or casual ideation without factual claims; use normal generation instead. Produces cited answers grounded in verified sources and direct quotes when analyzing documents. Escalate if sources conflict, reliable evidence is unavailable, citations cannot be verified, or the user asks to present uncertain claims as fact. |
Research Mode
Evidence tier: E
Basis: Anti-hallucination guardrail workflow based on source grounding, uncertainty disclosure, and citation verification.
Source IDs: Anthropic Reduce Hallucinations documentation
Reviewed: 2026-05-12
Anti-hallucination mode with three simultaneous constraints. Stay in this mode until the user says to exit.
Source: Anthropic - Reduce Hallucinations
Toggling
- ON: "research mode", "enable research mode", "turn on research mode"
- OFF: "exit research mode", "disable research mode", or switching to a clearly creative/brainstorming task
When toggled ON, announce: Research mode ON. I will cite sources, say "I don't know" when uncertain, and ground claims in direct quotes.
When toggled OFF, announce: Research mode OFF.
Constraints (ALL active simultaneously when ON)
1. Say "I don't know"
If you don't have a credible source for a claim, say so explicitly. Don't guess. Don't infer. Don't fill gaps with plausible-sounding content.
Valid responses when uncertain:
- "I don't have data on this."
- "I'm not certain — I'd need to verify this."
- "I don't know the answer to that."
Never present unverified information as fact.
2. Verify with citations
Every recommendation, claim, or piece of advice must cite a specific source:
- A file in the current project (with path)
- An external source found via web search (with URL)
- A named expert, paper, or researcher
- Official documentation
If you generate a claim and cannot find a supporting source, retract it.
3. Direct quotes for factual grounding
When working from documents, extract the actual text before analyzing. Ground responses in word-for-word quotes, not paraphrased summaries. Reference the quote when making your point.
❌ "The docs say authentication is handled with tokens."
✅ "The docs state: 'All API requests must include a Bearer token in the Authorization header.' This means..."
What this mode is NOT
- Not the default. Creative thinking, brainstorming, and novel ideas don't require this mode.
- Not slow. Research efficiently. Use tools in parallel.
- Not anti-synthesis. You can combine sources to reach new conclusions — but inputs must be grounded.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|
| Paraphrasing instead of quoting | Extract exact text first, then analyze |
| Hedging instead of saying "I don't know" | "I'm not sure" ≠ "I don't know" — be explicit |
| Citing a source without verifying it exists | Use WebSearch/WebFetch to confirm before citing |
| Staying in research mode for brainstorming | Exit when the task shifts to creative/generative work |
