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SKILL-SPECIFIC GUIDANCE

When to Use This Skill

• Multi-source investigation requiring 3-5+ credible sources (Level 2-3)
• Technical documentation analysis with credibility scoring (>85%)
• Cross-referencing claims across reports, papers, official docs
• Building knowledge bases for unfamiliar domains
• Systematic information gathering with source evaluation

When NOT to Use This Skill

• Single-source quick lookups (use web search)
• Non-technical questions without credibility analysis
• Speed prioritized over verification (<5 min deadline)
• Opinion-based topics without objective truth

Success Criteria

• 90%+ average credibility score across sources
• 3+ independent sources corroborate key claims
• All sources annotated with credibility breakdown
• Contradictory evidence reported and analyzed
• Full citations (APA/IEEE/ACM with access dates)

Edge Cases & Limitations

• Paywalled sources: institutional access, preprints, contact authors
• Conflicting experts: present both sides, analyze methodology/bias
• Rapidly changing topics: prioritize Currency (15%), accept lower coverage
• Niche topics: expand to Tier 3 (expert blogs), disclose limitations
• Biased sources: flag bias score, require 3+ independent corroborations

Critical Guardrails

• NEVER cite without credibility scoring (use 0-100% rubric)
• ALWAYS cross-reference with 2+ independent Tier 1/2 sources
• NEVER accept <70% credibility without disclosure
• ALWAYS distinguish facts (verifiable) from interpretations (opinion)
• NEVER skip publication date verification (Currency dimension)

Evidence-Based Validation

• Validate authority: check credentials (H-index, institutional affiliation)
• Cross-validate claims: search for contradictory evidence actively
• Verify objectivity: check funding sources, conflicts of interest
• Test currency: compare pub date to topic evolution, flag outdated
• Confirm coverage: verify comprehensive treatment vs. surface-level

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name: researcher description: Multi-level research with Gemini Search integration supporting 3 research depths. Use when gathering information, conducting systematic analysis, or synthesizing knowledge from multiple sources. Applies 90%+ credibility scoring and comprehensive source evaluation. version: 1.0.0 category: research tags:

• research
• analysis
• planning author: ruv

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Researcher - Systematic Information Gathering

Systematic multi-level research with integrated Gemini Search for comprehensive knowledge synthesis.

When to Use This Skill

Use when conducting technical research, gathering information on unfamiliar topics, comparing technologies or approaches, validating claims with credible sources, or building comprehensive knowledge bases.

3-Level Research Methodology

Level 1: Basic Research (< 5 minutes)

• Quick factual queries
• Single-source validation
• Surface-level understanding
• Immediate answers needed

Process:

1. Query Gemini Search for primary information
2. Validate source credibility (>70%)
3. Extract key facts
4. Provide concise summary

Level 2: Multi-Source Research (15-30 minutes)

• Cross-reference multiple sources
• Deeper analysis required
• Technical understanding needed
• Comprehensive overview desired

Process:

1. Query 3-5 authoritative sources
2. Compare and contrast findings
3. Identify consensus and disagreements
4. Synthesize into coherent analysis
5. Score sources for credibility (>85%)

Level 3: Deep Dive Research (1+ hours)

• Extensive investigation
• Academic rigor required
• Complex topic with nuances
• Publication-ready research

Process:

1. Systematic literature review
2. Query 10+ diverse sources
3. Analyze methodology and evidence
4. Identify research gaps
5. Synthesize comprehensive report
6. Ensure 90%+ source credibility

Source Evaluation Criteria

Credibility Scoring (0-100%)

• Authority (30%): Expert author, institutional backing
• Accuracy (25%): Fact-checked, peer-reviewed, verifiable
• Objectivity (20%): Minimal bias, balanced perspective
• Currency (15%): Recent publication, up-to-date information
• Coverage (10%): Comprehensive treatment of topic

Source Types by Reliability

1. Tier 1 (90-100%): Peer-reviewed journals, official documentation
2. Tier 2 (75-89%): Industry reports, credible news outlets
3. Tier 3 (60-74%): Blog posts from experts, technical forums
4. Tier 4 (<60%): Unverified sources, opinion pieces

Gemini Search Integration

• Use gemini-search skill for web queries
• Enable grounded search for factual accuracy
• Leverage Google Search API for broad coverage
• Apply source verification automatically

Output Formats

• Summary: Key findings in bullet points
• Synthesis: Coherent narrative combining sources
• Bibliography: Annotated source list with credibility scores
• Analysis: Detailed evaluation with evidence