Applying IMRaD
Use IMRaD only when a clear question, a real or responsibly inferable method, results or explicitly non-empirical outputs, and interpretation all exist. Do not force it onto simple explanations, tutorials, brainstorming, or style-only edits.
Select One Mode
| Mode |
Trigger |
Deliverable |
| Detector |
applicability, readiness, or section-gap question |
fit verdict and gap analysis, not a full article |
| Reviewer |
existing IMRaD draft needs audit |
prioritized structural/evidence findings, not a rewrite unless asked |
| Recomposer |
notes or mixed material must become IMRaD |
full transformed draft |
| Writer |
new research-style output is requested |
full new draft |
Infer the mode when clear. Ask only when the choice materially changes the deliverable.
Evidence Rules
- Never fabricate data, citations, experiments, measurements, or observations.
- Label non-empirical results as
inferred, hypothetical, expected, or simulated.
- Put material assumptions in Methods and trace every major Results or Discussion claim to source evidence or an explicit assumption.
- Keep reporting separate from interpretation. Do not hide missing evidence behind fluent prose.
- Add
Abstract or Conclusion only when requested.
Section Boundaries
- Introduction: context, problem/question, objective or hypothesis. No methods, findings, or conclusions.
- Methods: approach, process, tools, sources, reproducibility detail, and assumptions. No findings or interpretation.
- Results: objective findings, outputs, or observations, with empirical and non-empirical content clearly separated. No implications or argument.
- Discussion: interpretation supported by Results, answer to the Introduction question, limitations, and relevant next steps.
Mode Workflows
Detector
Classify each section as explicit, partial, inferable, or unavailable. Return applicability (high, medium, or low), required assumptions, and one recommendation: full IMRaD, partial IMRaD, or no IMRaD. Do not turn unavailable evidence into results.
Reviewer
Check section presence/order, boundary purity, claim traceability, empirical labels, and question→method→result→interpretation linkage. Lead with the overall verdict, then findings with severity, section, problem, impact, and specific fix. Mention strengths only when they help preserve sound structure.
Recomposer
Extract the question and method, separate findings from interpretation, compose the four sections in exact order, expose assumptions in Methods, and validate claim traceability before handoff.
Writer
Define the question/objective, describe the actual or explicitly analytical method, present available outputs objectively, and interpret only those outputs. If an empirical method or results are missing, do not invent them; either produce clearly labeled non-empirical work or explain why a responsible full IMRaD draft is unavailable.
Finish with the requested artifact or verdict first, followed by material assumptions, evidence gaps, and section-boundary caveats.
1---2name: apply-imrad3description: Decide whether IMRaD fits, review an IMRaD draft, transform mixed material into IMRaD, or draft a new evidence-traceable IMRaD output without fabricating results.4---5
6# Applying IMRaD
7
8Use IMRaD only when a clear question, a real or responsibly inferable method, results or explicitly non-empirical outputs, and interpretation all exist. Do not force it onto simple explanations, tutorials, brainstorming, or style-only edits.
9
10## Select One Mode
11
12| Mode | Trigger | Deliverable |
13| --- | --- | --- |
14| Detector | applicability, readiness, or section-gap question | fit verdict and gap analysis, not a full article |
15| Reviewer | existing IMRaD draft needs audit | prioritized structural/evidence findings, not a rewrite unless asked |
16| Recomposer | notes or mixed material must become IMRaD | full transformed draft |
17| Writer | new research-style output is requested | full new draft |
18
19Infer the mode when clear. Ask only when the choice materially changes the deliverable.
20
21## Evidence Rules
22
23- Never fabricate data, citations, experiments, measurements, or observations.
24- Label non-empirical results as `inferred`, `hypothetical`, `expected`, or `simulated`.
25- Put material assumptions in Methods and trace every major Results or Discussion claim to source evidence or an explicit assumption.
26- Keep reporting separate from interpretation. Do not hide missing evidence behind fluent prose.
27- Add `Abstract` or `Conclusion` only when requested.
28
29## Section Boundaries
30
311. **Introduction:** context, problem/question, objective or hypothesis. No methods, findings, or conclusions.
322. **Methods:** approach, process, tools, sources, reproducibility detail, and assumptions. No findings or interpretation.
333. **Results:** objective findings, outputs, or observations, with empirical and non-empirical content clearly separated. No implications or argument.
344. **Discussion:** interpretation supported by Results, answer to the Introduction question, limitations, and relevant next steps.
35
36## Mode Workflows
37
38### Detector
39
40Classify each section as `explicit`, `partial`, `inferable`, or `unavailable`. Return applicability (`high`, `medium`, or `low`), required assumptions, and one recommendation: full IMRaD, partial IMRaD, or no IMRaD. Do not turn unavailable evidence into results.
41
42### Reviewer
43
44Check section presence/order, boundary purity, claim traceability, empirical labels, and question→method→result→interpretation linkage. Lead with the overall verdict, then findings with severity, section, problem, impact, and specific fix. Mention strengths only when they help preserve sound structure.
45
46### Recomposer
47
48Extract the question and method, separate findings from interpretation, compose the four sections in exact order, expose assumptions in Methods, and validate claim traceability before handoff.
49
50### Writer
51
52Define the question/objective, describe the actual or explicitly analytical method, present available outputs objectively, and interpret only those outputs. If an empirical method or results are missing, do not invent them; either produce clearly labeled non-empirical work or explain why a responsible full IMRaD draft is unavailable.
53
54Finish with the requested artifact or verdict first, followed by material assumptions, evidence gaps, and section-boundary caveats.