Research Methods

Research Methods

Comprehensive standards for conducting research, evaluating sources, and presenting information in clear, well-formatted responses.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Researching documentation for tools, frameworks, or APIs
• Gathering information from multiple sources
• Synthesizing findings into coherent responses
• Creating reference materials
• Answering questions requiring external information
• Building knowledge bases

Key Principles

1. Ask before researching - Clarify ambiguous queries before starting
2. Prioritize official sources - Documentation over tutorials, primary over secondary
3. Track all sources - Maintain attribution for every piece of information
4. Match format to need - Simple questions get simple answers, complex get detailed
5. Accuracy over speed - Cross-reference critical information
6. User-focused presentation - Scannable, organized, actionable

Response Type Selection

Simple Response

Use when:

• Single, specific question
• How-to query with clear scope
• Quick reference lookup
• Command syntax or parameter info
• Definition or concept explanation
• User wants fast answer

Template:

# [Concise Title]

[Direct answer to the question]

[Code example if applicable]

## Sources
- [URL] - [Description]

Example questions:

• "How do I amend a git commit?"
• "What is the Stop hook in Claude Code?"
• "How to use WebFetch tool?"

Detailed Response

Use when:

• Broad, exploratory question
• Request mentions "comprehensive", "all", "detailed"
• Time estimate provided ("5 min intro", "quick overview")
• Multiple related concepts
• Comparative analysis
• Building reference material

Template:

# [Descriptive Title]

[Executive summary - 2-3 sentences providing overview]

## Overview
[Context and background]

## [Topic Section 1]
[Detailed information]

## [Topic Section 2]
[Detailed information]

## Key Takeaways
- [Point 1]
- [Point 2]
- [Point 3]

## Sources
- [URL] - [Description]

Example questions:

• "Research all available hooks in Claude Code"
• "Give me a comprehensive overview of git workflows"
• "Explain React hooks and when to use them"

Research Process

1. Clarification Phase

Before starting research:

• Identify ambiguities in the query
• Ask specific clarifying questions
• Don't assume user intent
• Use AskUserQuestion tool for multiple clarifications

Examples of good clarifications:

• "Are you asking about React library hooks or Claude Code hooks?"
• "Do you want a quick reference or detailed explanation?"
• "Which version are you using?"

2. Source Selection

Priority order:

Tier 1: Official Documentation

• https://code.claude.com/docs/** - Claude Code docs
• https://github.com/** - Official repositories
• https://gist.github.com/** - Official gists
• Tool/framework official documentation sites

Tier 2: Community Resources

• Stack Overflow (for specific problems)
• Technical blogs (recent, authoritative)
• Tutorial sites (well-maintained)

Tier 3: General Web

• General search results
• Use only when Tier 1-2 insufficient
• Verify information quality carefully

3. Information Gathering

For each source:

1. Read thoroughly
2. Extract relevant information
3. Note source URL and description
4. Identify key points
5. Check publication date/relevance

Cross-referencing:

• Verify critical facts across 2+ sources
• Note version-specific information
• Flag contradictions for investigation
• Prefer recent over outdated

4. Synthesis

Organize information:

• Group related concepts
• Order from general to specific
• Identify patterns and relationships
• Extract key takeaways

Quality checks:

• Is it accurate?
• Is it complete for the query?
• Is it clearly presented?
• Are sources properly attributed?

Formatting Standards

Markdown Structure

Headers:

• H1 (#) - Title only
• H2 (##) - Major sections
• H3 (###) - Subsections if needed
• Keep hierarchy shallow (max 3 levels)

Code blocks:

# Always specify language
# Include comments for clarity

Lists:

• Use bullets for unordered items
• Use numbers for sequential steps
• Keep items parallel in structure
• One idea per bullet point

Emphasis:

• Bold for key terms and important points
• Italic sparingly for subtle emphasis
• Code font for technical terms, commands, file names

Source Attribution

Format:

## Sources
- [URL] - [Brief description of what info came from this source]

Best practices:

• List in order of importance/relevance
• Keep descriptions concise (5-10 words)
• Include official docs first
• Don't duplicate similar sources

Example:

## Sources
- https://code.claude.com/docs/hooks - Hook events and configuration
- https://github.com/example/repo/docs - Implementation examples
- https://blog.example.com/hooks-guide - Best practices guide

Template Usage

Simple Response Template

Structure:

1. Title (clear, specific)
2. Direct answer (1-3 paragraphs)
3. Code example (if applicable)
4. Sources (2-4 typically)

Length: 100-300 words plus code examples

Tone: Direct, practical, focused

Detailed Response Template

Structure:

1. Title (descriptive, comprehensive)
2. Executive summary (2-3 sentences)
3. Overview section (context/background)
4. Topic sections (2-5 sections, organized logically)
5. Key takeaways (3-5 bullet points)
6. Sources (5-10 typically)

Length: 500-1500 words

Tone: Comprehensive, educational, organized

Quality Standards

Accuracy

• Cross-reference critical information
• Note version-specific details
• Flag assumptions or uncertainties
• Prefer official sources

Completeness

• Answer the actual question asked
• Include necessary context
• Provide examples when helpful
• Cover edge cases if relevant

Clarity

• Use simple, direct language
• Define technical terms
• Organize information logically
• Make content scannable

Attribution

• Cite every source used
• Track where information came from
• Describe what each source contributed
• Link to original documentation

Error Handling

Insufficient Information

I found limited information about [topic]. Based on available sources:
[Present what was found]

This might indicate:
- Recent/unreleased feature
- Deprecated functionality
- Different terminology

Would you like me to search with alternative terms?

Contradictory Sources

I found conflicting information:
- Source A: [X]
- Source B: [Y]

This appears to be due to [version/context/timing].
The most current information suggests: [recommendation]

No Results

I couldn't find reliable sources for [topic].

Could you:
- Verify the terminology?
- Provide more context?
- Specify the tool/version?

Related Files

• templates.md - Detailed template examples with full samples
• search-strategies.md - Advanced search techniques per domain
• source-evaluation.md - Criteria for assessing source quality