Research Workflow
A structured methodology for conducting comprehensive research. This skill guides you through planning, executing, analyzing, and synthesizing research on any topic.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
- The user needs comprehensive research on a topic
- Multiple search queries are needed to fully answer a question
- Source credibility and synthesis matter
- A research report or documented findings are expected
- Keywords mentioned: research, investigate, deep dive, comprehensive analysis
Do NOT use this skill when:
- A single quick search will suffice (use web-search instead)
- The user just wants a simple fact lookup
- No synthesis or analysis is needed
- Time is extremely limited
Prerequisites
Before using this skill, ensure:
- Web search capability is available (web-search skill, WebSearch tool, or similar)
- Sufficient time for multi-phase research process
- Clear understanding of the research question or topic
Research Phases Overview
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ RESEARCH WORKFLOW │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ 1. PLANNING 2. EXECUTION │
│ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ │
│ │ Define │ │ Run searches │ │
│ │ questions │───>│ Evaluate │ │
│ │ Plan queries │ │ sources │ │
│ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ │
│ │ │ │
│ v v │
│ 3. ANALYSIS 4. SYNTHESIS │
│ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ │
│ │ Organize │ │ Create │ │
│ │ findings │───>│ coherent │ │
│ │ Find patterns│ │ output │ │
│ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘Phase 1: Planning
Before any searches, establish a clear research plan.
Step 1: Define the Research Question
Convert the topic into specific, answerable questions.
Example:
- Topic: "AI in healthcare"
- Questions:
1. What are the current applications of AI in healthcare? 2. What are the main benefits and challenges? 3. What regulations govern AI in healthcare? 4. What are the latest developments (last 6 months)?
Step 2: Identify Sub-Topics
Break down the main topic into searchable components:
- Core concepts and definitions
- Current state and applications
- Benefits and advantages
- Challenges and limitations
- Recent developments
- Future trends
Step 3: Plan Search Strategy
Create a search plan with query progression:
- Broad queries first: Get overall landscape
- "[topic] overview" - "[topic] introduction guide"
- Specific queries next: Dive into details
- "[topic] specific aspect" - "[topic] case study"
- Verification queries last: Confirm findings
- "[topic] criticism challenges" - "[topic] latest news [year]"
Use the template at assets/research-plan-template.md to document your plan.
Phase 2: Execution
Execute your search plan systematically.
Step 1: Run Searches
Execute queries in order, using appropriate search parameters:
# Broad overview
web-search "AI in healthcare overview 2024"
# Specific deep dive
web-search "AI diagnostic imaging applications" --depth advanced
# Current news
web-search "AI healthcare regulations 2024" --topic news --time monthStep 2: Document Each Search
For each search, record:
- Query used
- Number of results reviewed
- Key findings (2-3 bullet points)
- Notable sources
- New questions raised
Step 3: Evaluate Sources
Use the checklist at assets/source-evaluation-checklist.md to assess:
Credibility Indicators:
- Author/organization expertise
- Publication reputation
- Date of publication
- Citations and references
Quality Signals:
- Evidence-based claims
- Multiple perspectives
- Clear methodology
Step 4: Iterate as Needed
Research is not linear. Based on findings:
- Add new queries for gaps discovered
- Verify surprising claims
- Explore unexpected connections
Phase 3: Analysis
Organize and analyze your collected findings.
Step 1: Group Findings by Theme
Organize results into categories:
- Core concepts
- Current state
- Benefits/opportunities
- Challenges/risks
- Recent developments
- Expert opinions
Step 2: Identify Patterns
Look for:
- Consensus: Where do multiple sources agree?
- Conflicts: Where do sources disagree?
- Gaps: What questions remain unanswered?
- Trends: What direction is the field moving?
Step 3: Assess Confidence
For each finding, determine confidence level:
- High: Multiple authoritative sources agree
- Medium: Some evidence, limited sources
- Low: Single source or conflicting information
Step 4: Note Limitations
Document:
- What couldn't be found
- Areas needing more research
- Potential biases in sources
Phase 4: Synthesis
Create coherent, useful output from your analysis.
Step 1: Structure the Output
Choose appropriate format based on use case:
- Executive summary: Quick overview for decisions
- Full report: Comprehensive documentation
- Action items: Practical next steps
Use the template at assets/research-report-template.md.
Step 2: Write the Synthesis
Key principles:
- Lead with most important findings
- Connect related concepts
- Note confidence levels
- Acknowledge limitations
- Cite sources
Step 3: Include Actionable Elements
End with practical outputs:
- Key takeaways (3-5 points)
- Recommendations
- Further research suggestions
- Decision points
Complete Example
Scenario: Research "Best practices for API versioning"
Phase 1 - Planning:
Research Question: What are the best practices for API versioning?
Sub-questions:
1. What versioning strategies exist?
2. What are pros/cons of each?
3. What do major companies use?
4. What do experts recommend?
Search Plan:
- "API versioning strategies comparison"
- "REST API versioning best practices 2024"
- "API versioning header vs URL vs query parameter"
- "large companies API versioning approach"Phase 2 - Execution:
Query 1: "API versioning strategies comparison"
- Found: URL versioning, header versioning, query parameter
- Key insight: URL versioning most common, header more "RESTful"
- Sources: REST API tutorial, Martin Fowler blog
Query 2: "REST API versioning best practices 2024"
- Found: Semantic versioning principles apply
- Key insight: Version only when breaking changes
- Sources: API design guides, Stack Overflow discussionsPhase 3 - Analysis:
Consensus Points:
- Version only for breaking changes
- Be consistent within an API
- Document version lifecycle
Conflicts:
- URL vs header placement (no clear winner)
- When to deprecate old versions
Gaps:
- Limited data on performance impact
- Few studies on developer experiencePhase 4 - Synthesis:
Key Findings:
1. Three main strategies exist (URL, header, query param)
2. URL versioning is most common and discoverable
3. Header versioning is considered more "pure" REST
4. Version only on breaking changes
5. Major companies split between approaches
Recommendations:
- Use URL versioning for public APIs (discoverability)
- Consider header versioning for internal APIs
- Document deprecation timeline clearly
- Use semantic versioning principlesQuality Checklist
Before completing research, verify:
- Clear research questions were defined
- Multiple queries were executed (minimum 3-5)
- Sources were evaluated for credibility
- Findings are organized by theme
- Consensus and conflicts are noted
- Confidence levels are indicated
- Limitations are acknowledged
- Output is actionable
Reference Materials
For detailed guidance, see:
- Research Methodology - In-depth methodology background
- Output Formats - Detailed format specifications
Templates
Limitations
This workflow has the following limitations:
- Quality depends on available web search capability
- Cannot access paywalled or restricted content
- Time-intensive for comprehensive research
- Synthesis quality depends on agent capabilities
- May miss very recent developments not yet indexed
Related Skills
- web-search: For executing individual web searches (used within this workflow)