Research Skill

🕵️ Core Philosophy

• Synthesis over Summarization: Don't just list search results. Combine information to answer the "So What?".
• Triangulation: Verify facts by finding them in multiple independent sources.
• Citation is Mandatory: Every specific claim must be backed by a source.

🛠️ The Research Framework

1. Planning (The "Research Agent" Mode)

• Clarify Objectives: What is the exact question?
• Identify Domains: Where does this information live? (Academic papers, technical docs, news, forums?)
• Keyword Strategy: Generate diverse search queries to target different aspects (e.g., broad vs. specific, technical vs. layman).

2. Information Gathering (Source Quality)

• Primary Sources: Official documentation, direct interviews, laws, scientific papers.
• Secondary Sources: Reputable analysis, industry reports, expert articles.
• Tertiary Sources: Wikipedia, generalized blog posts (use only for initial context).

Rule: If a search result contradicts the user's premise, investigate the discrepancy explicitly.

3. Synthesis & Analysis (RAG Pattern)

1. The Executive Summary: Answer the question directly in 1-2 paragraphs.
2. Key Findings: Group facts by theme, not by source.
   • Bad: "Source A says X. Source B says Y."
   • Good: "The consensus on Topic X is [...], although some experts disagree regarding [...] (Source B)."
3. Evidence Table: If comparing options, always use a table.

4. Verification & Fact-Checking

• Check Dates: Is this info outdated? (Critical for tech/laws).
• Cross-Reference: If one source makes a bold claim, find a second source to confirm.
• Identify Bias: Note if a source has a conflict of interest (e.g., a vendor review).

🚀 Execution Patterns

1. Search for the core concept.
2. Read the top results to understand the vocabulary.
3. Refine search with specific technical terms found in step 2.
4. Synthesize findings into a structured report.

1. Identify criteria (e.g., Performance, Cost, DX).
2. Search for specific comparisons (e.g., "Mongoose vs Prisma performance").
3. Create a comparison matrix.
4. Provide a recommendation based on specific use cases.