Research Skill

Systematic research query expansion and completion assessment. Transforms basic questions into comprehensive search strategies.

Diagnostic States

R1: No Analysis

Symptoms: Jumping straight to searching without analyzing the topic. Test: Can you articulate stakeholders, temporal scope, and domain mapping? Intervention: Run Phase 0 Analysis Template before generating queries.

R1.5: No Vocabulary Map

Symptoms: Using outsider/introductory terminology. Finding only surface-level material. Test: Have you identified expert vs. outsider terms? Terms across domains? Intervention: Build vocabulary map. Hunt for “also known as,” “technically called” in early sources.

R2: Single-Perspective Search

Symptoms: All queries support one viewpoint. Missing counterarguments. Test: Have you explicitly searched for opposing perspectives? Intervention: Generate competing perspectives queries. Search for strongest counterargument.

R3: Domain Blindness

Symptoms: Searching only in familiar field. Missing cross-disciplinary insights. Test: Have you mapped terminology variants across fields? Intervention: Identify what adjacent fields call this topic. Search in at least 2 domains. Update vocabulary map.

R4: Recency Bias

Symptoms: Only recent sources. Missing historical context. Test: Can you explain when this topic emerged and how it evolved? Intervention: Add historical context queries. Find seminal works.

R5: Breadth Without Depth

Symptoms: Many tabs, no synthesis. Can’t explain core concepts. Test: Can you define key terms in your own words? Intervention: Apply 3-source rule per perspective. Summarize before searching more.

R6: Completion Uncertainty

Symptoms: Unsure whether to continue or stop. Research expanding indefinitely. Test: Can you answer the tiered completion criteria? Intervention: Run completion checklist. Look for diminishing returns signals.

R7: Research Complete

Symptoms: Can explain topic, identify uncertainties, and take action. Indicators: Circular references, repetitive findings, sufficient for purpose.

R8: No Persistence

Symptoms: Starting from scratch each session. Re-discovering same vocabulary. Test: Did you check for prior research before starting? Are you storing findings? Intervention: Store vocabulary map, sources, digested notes, and gaps for future use.

R9: Scope Mismatch

Symptoms: Over-researching trivial questions. Under-researching critical decisions. Test: Is research depth proportional to decision stakes? Intervention: Apply scope calibration. Match confidence level to decision reversibility and stakes.

R10: No Confidence Signaling

Symptoms: Hedging language everywhere. Reader can’t tell what’s certain vs. speculative. Test: Can reader distinguish established facts from speculation? Intervention: Use explicit confidence markers. State source quality and consensus status.

Phase 0: Analysis Template

Before searching, structure your topic:

# Research Analysis: [Topic]

## Core Concepts
- **Primary terms:** [Key terms requiring definition]
- **Terminology variants:** [Synonyms, jargon, historical terms]
- **Ambiguous terms:** [Terms with multiple meanings]

## Stakeholders
- **Primary actors:** [Who is directly involved?]
- **Affected groups:** [Who bears consequences?]
- **Opposing interests:** [Who benefits from different outcomes?]

## Temporal Scope
- **Historical origins:** [When did this begin?]
- **Key transitions:** [What changed and when?]
- **Current state:** [What's happening now?]

## Domains
- **Primary field:** [Main discipline]
- **Adjacent fields:** [Related disciplines]

## Controversies
- **Active debates:** [What's contested?]
- **Competing frameworks:** [Different ways of understanding]

Query Types

1. Foundational: “term definition AND field review”
2. Historical: “topic history development [date range]”
3. Current: “topic current trends [recent years]”
4. Competing: “topic debate AND (perspective1 OR perspective2)”
5. Evidence: “topic impact measurement study data”

Completion Criteria

Minimum Viable (Quick Decisions)

• Can define core concepts in own words
• Know 2-3 major perspectives
• Found authoritative source per perspective
• Identified known unknowns

Working Knowledge (Most Decisions)

• Can explain historical context
• Understand stakeholder positions
• Encountered counterarguments
• Checked multiple domains

Deep Expertise (High-Stakes)

• Traced claims to primary sources
• Can evaluate competing evidence
• Understand knowledge limitations

Diminishing Returns Signals

Stop when:

• New sources cite same foundational works (circular)
• New searches return familiar content (repetitive)
• Each hour adds less than previous (marginal)
• Can make decision or take action (sufficient)

Anti-Patterns

Vocabulary Mapping

Primary research deliverable. Vocabulary determines search space and LLM semantic activation.

Why It Matters

• Expert terms → expert material. Outsider terms → introductory material.
• Precise vocabulary activates richer LLM semantic space.
• Cross-domain terms bridge bodies of work that use different names.

Vocabulary Map Template

## Core Terms
| Term | Domain | Depth Level |
|------|--------|-------------|
| [expert term] | [field] | Expert |
| [outsider term] | General | Introductory |

## Cross-Domain Synonyms
| Concept | Terms by Domain |
|---------|-----------------|
| [concept] | Field A: [term], Field B: [term] |

## Depth Indicators
| Level | Terms | What They Surface |
|-------|-------|-------------------|
| Introductory | [terms] | Overviews, explainers |
| Expert | [terms] | Research, nuanced analysis |

Discovery Process

1. Note which terms feel like outsider language
2. In early sources, watch for “also known as,” “technically called”
3. Map terms across domains
4. Test different terms in searches, note what surfaces

Research Persistence

Store both sources AND digested results. Don’t start from scratch.

What to Store

Before Starting

Check for prior research. Load vocabulary map. Start where you left off.

Single-Shot Research

When research runs without follow-up questions (agent execution, time-boxed queries):

Scope Calibration

Question Pattern → Strategy

Source Type Selection

Synthesis Template

## Summary
[Direct answer to question]

## Confidence Level
[High/Medium/Low] - [Justification]

## Key Findings
1. [Finding with source type]

## Caveats
- [What wasn't consulted]
- [What assumptions were made]

## For Deeper Investigation
[What would increase confidence]

Confidence Markers

Single-Shot Checklist

• Scope matched to stakes?
• Multiple source types consulted?
• Counter-evidence sought?
• Confidence level explicit?
• Gaps acknowledged?

Health Check Questions

During research, ask:

1. Am I searching to learn or to confirm?
2. What’s the strongest argument against my current view?
3. Have I looked outside my familiar domains?
4. Can I summarize what I’ve learned so far?
5. Is this still serving my original purpose?
6. Am I using expert or outsider vocabulary?
7. Have I stored what I’ve learned for future use?
8. Is my depth proportional to the stakes?
9. Am I signaling confidence explicitly?

Integration Points

Output Persistence

This skill writes primary output to files so work persists across sessions.

Output Discovery

Before doing any other work:

1. Check for context/output-config.md in the project
2. If found, look for this skill’s entry
3. If not found or no entry for this skill, ask the user first:
   • “Where should I save output from this research session?”
   • Suggest: explorations/research/ or a sensible location for this project
4. Store the user’s preference:
   • In context/output-config.md if context network exists
   • In .research-output.md at project root otherwise

Primary Output

For this skill, persist:

• Vocabulary map – terms, domains, depth levels, cross-domain synonyms
• Phase 0 analysis – core concepts, stakeholders, temporal scope, domains
• Synthesis document – summary, confidence levels, key findings, caveats
• Source assessment – sources consulted with quality notes
• Gaps identified – what remains unknown, next steps

Conversation vs. File

File Naming

Pattern: {topic}-research-{date}.md Example: competency-frameworks-research-2025-01-15.md

Relationship to Research Persistence Section

The “Research Persistence” section above describes WHAT to store. This section operationalizes WHERE and HOW – ensuring the skill checks for configured locations, asks the user when needed, and writes output consistently.

Source Framework

Derived from: frameworks/research/research-framework.md