research

What this skill does

# Research Skill

Tool-assisted research with Tavily integration. Transforms basic questions into comprehensive search strategies using AI-optimized web search.

## Setup

This skill includes a bundled Tavily CLI script at `scripts/tavily-cli.ts`.

### Requirements

1. **Deno** - Install from https://deno.land
2. **Tavily API Key** - Get one at https://tavily.com (free tier available)

### Configuration

Set your API key:
```bash
export TAVILY_API_KEY="your-key-here"
```

Create an alias for convenience (add to your shell profile):
```bash
# Adjust path to where this skill is installed
alias tavily='deno run --allow-net --allow-env /path/to/skills/research/scripts/tavily-cli.ts'
```

Or run directly:
```bash
deno run --allow-net --allow-env ./scripts/tavily-cli.ts "your query"
```

Commands below use `tavily` assuming the alias is configured.

---

## Quick Reference

### Common Commands

```bash
# Basic search
tavily "your query"

# With AI answer summary
tavily "your query" --answer

# Deep search with more results
tavily "your query" --depth advanced --results 10 --answer

# News/recent content
tavily "your query" --topic news --time week

# Exclude familiar sources to find new perspectives
tavily "your query" --exclude wikipedia.org,reddit.com
```

### Phase Summary

| Phase | Type | Purpose |
|-------|------|---------|
| 0 | Manual | Analyze topic, set scope |
| 1 | Tavily | Discover expert terminology |
| 2 | Tavily | Foundational search |
| 3 | Tavily | Counter-perspectives |
| 4 | Manual | Synthesize findings |

### Scope → Tavily Depth

| Decision Stakes | Tavily Settings |
|-----------------|-----------------|
| Low, reversible | `--depth basic --results 3` |
| Moderate | `--depth basic --results 5 --answer` |
| High, irreversible | `--depth advanced --results 10 --answer` |

---

## Phase 0: Analysis

**Goal**: Structure topic before searching. Prevents unfocused searches and scope mismatch.

### Scope Calibration

Before searching, assess stakes:

| Decision Type | Confidence Needed | Research Depth |
|---------------|-------------------|----------------|
| Reversible, low-stakes | 60-70% | Quick scan (minutes) |
| Reversible, moderate | 75-85% | Working knowledge |
| Irreversible, moderate | 85-90% | Solid grounding |
| Irreversible, high | 90-95% | Deep expertise |

### Analysis Template

```markdown
# Research Analysis: [Topic]

## Core Concepts
- **Primary terms:** [Key terms requiring definition]
- **Terminology variants:** [Synonyms, jargon, historical terms]
- **Ambiguous terms:** [Terms with multiple meanings]

## Stakeholders
- **Primary actors:** [Who is directly involved?]
- **Affected groups:** [Who bears consequences?]
- **Opposing interests:** [Who benefits from different outcomes?]

## Temporal Scope
- **Historical origins:** [When did this begin?]
- **Key transitions:** [What changed and when?]
- **Current state:** [What's happening now?]

## Domains
- **Primary field:** [Main discipline]
- **Adjacent fields:** [Related disciplines]

## Controversies
- **Active debates:** [What's contested?]
- **Competing frameworks:** [Different ways of understanding]
```

### Phase 0 Checklist

- [ ] Identified primary terms
- [ ] Listed potential stakeholders
- [ ] Assessed decision stakes
- [ ] Determined appropriate research depth

---

## Phase 1: Vocabulary Discovery

**Goal**: Discover expert terminology to unlock deeper search results.

### Why Vocabulary Matters

- Outsider terms → introductory material
- Expert terms → research, nuanced analysis
- Cross-domain terms → bridge bodies of work

### Tavily Commands for Vocabulary Discovery

| Discovery Need | Command |
|----------------|---------|
| Expert terminology | `tavily "[topic] terminology experts" --answer` |
| Academic terms | `tavily "[topic] academic research terminology" --answer` |
| Cross-domain synonyms | `tavily "[topic] also known as called" --answer` |
| Historical terms | `tavily "[topic] history original term" --answer` |

### Vocabulary Discovery Process

1. Run initial terminology search:
   ```bash
   tavily "[topic] terminology" --answer --results 5
   ```

2. From results, note:
   - Expert terms (technical vocabulary)
   - Outsider terms (popular/introductory language)
   - Cross-domain equivalents

3. Update vocabulary map (template below)

4. Re-run searches with expert terms:
   ```bash
   tavily "[expert-term]" --answer
   ```

5. Compare result quality - expert terms should surface deeper content

### Vocabulary Map Template

```markdown
## Core Terms
| Term | Domain | Depth Level |
|------|--------|-------------|
| [expert term] | [field] | Expert |
| [outsider term] | General | Introductory |

## Cross-Domain Synonyms
| Concept | Terms by Domain |
|---------|-----------------|
| [concept] | Field A: [term], Field B: [term] |

## Depth Indicators
| Level | Terms | What They Surface |
|-------|-------|-------------------|
| Introductory | [terms] | Overviews, explainers |
| Expert | [terms] | Research, nuanced analysis |
```

### Phase 1 Checklist

- [ ] Ran terminology discovery search
- [ ] Identified expert vs. outsider terms
- [ ] Mapped cross-domain synonyms
- [ ] Created vocabulary map

---

## Phase 2: Foundational Search

**Goal**: Build foundational understanding with authoritative sources.

### Question Pattern → Tavily Command

| Question Pattern | Strategy | Command |
|------------------|----------|---------|
| "What is X?" | Consensus from authorities | `tavily "[expert-term] definition" --answer --depth advanced` |
| "Should I X?" | Pros/cons, alternatives | `tavily "[expert-term] pros cons comparison" --answer` |
| "Is X true?" | Evidence, counter-evidence | `tavily "[claim] evidence research" --answer --depth advanced` |
| "How do I X?" | Step-by-step, pitfalls | `tavily "[expert-term] guide tutorial" --answer` |
| Historical context | Origins and evolution | `tavily "[topic] history origins development" --answer` |

### Source Type Selection

| Source Type | Best For | Tavily Approach |
|-------------|----------|-----------------|
| Academic/Research | Mechanism, causation | `--depth advanced --results 10` |
| Practitioner content | How things work, edge cases | `--topic general --answer` |
| News/Current | Recent developments | `--topic news --time week` |
| Official docs | Technical specs, policy | `--include [official-domain]` |

### Foundational Search Process

1. Start with expert terminology from Phase 1

2. Run foundational queries:
   ```bash
   # Definition/overview
   tavily "[expert-term] comprehensive overview" --answer --depth advanced

   # Key perspectives
   tavily "[expert-term] major approaches" --answer --results 7
   ```

3. For each major perspective found, get 2-3 authoritative sources:
   ```bash
   tavily "[perspective-name] [expert-term]" --answer --results 5
   ```

4. Track sources in research notes

### Phase 2 Checklist

- [ ] Used expert terminology from Phase 1
- [ ] Searched for foundational overview
- [ ] Identified 2-3 major perspectives
- [ ] Found authoritative sources per perspective
- [ ] Tracked sources

---

## Phase 3: Counter-Perspective Search

**Goal**: Explicitly find opposing viewpoints to avoid confirmation bias.

### Why Counter-Perspectives Matter

Single-perspective research:
- All sources support one viewpoint
- Missing counterarguments
- Echo chamber risk

### Tavily Commands for Counter-Perspectives

| Need | Command |
|------|---------|
| General criticism | `tavily "[topic] criticism problems" --answer` |
| Opposing viewpoint | `tavily "[topic] skeptics critique" --answer` |
| Alternative approaches | `tavily "[topic] alternatives instead of" --answer` |
| Failure cases | `tavily "[topic] failures when wrong" --answer` |
| Avoid echo chamber | `tavily "[topic] debate" --exclude [familiar-sources]` |

### Counter-Perspective Process

1. Identify your current understanding/lean

2. Search for strongest counterargument:
   ```bash
   tavily "[topic] strongest argument against" --a