conducting-researchlisted

# Conducting Research Guide systematic research: frame the question, find and judge sources, gather and synthesise, stop at the right point, present findings with confidence levels. This is process guidance, not domain expertise — findings are only as good as the sources available. Skip when a single lookup or a straightforward answer from existing knowledge suffices. ## Phase 1 — Define and frame Before searching, establish (ask the user if unclear): - **Question** — write it explicitly; break complex questions into 3–7 answerable sub-questions; note assumptions needing validation - **Scope** — what's in and out, depth (overview vs deep dive), time constraints - **Purpose** — what decision or action does this inform? This sets depth and output format - **Success criteria** — what would make the research "complete enough"? ## Phase 2 — Identify and evaluate sources Aim for at least 3 high-quality sources before concluding anything. Source hierarchy — start at the top, expand downward as needed: 1. **Primary** — official documentation, research papers, primary data, project repositories and changelogs 2. **Secondary** — established books and guides, expert blog posts (verify expertise), reputable analysis sites 3. **Community** — Stack Overflow, Reddit/HN discussions, GitHub issues, conference talks — useful but verify Judge each source on: **authority** (who wrote it; official or third-party), **recency** (still current? prioritise recent sources in fast-moving fiel