# Systematic Research Strategy

This reference outlines the systematic workflow for conducting deep research and synthesizing it into a high-quality report.

## Phase 1: Planning & Scoping
Don't dive into research immediately. Spend 2-3 minutes planning.

1.  **Deconstruct the Query**: Identify the core topic, implicit constraints, and desired outcome.
2.  **Define Research Objectives**: What are the 3-5 critical questions that must be answered?
3.  **Select a Structure**: Refer to `report-structures.md` and adapt it to the query.
4.  **Identify Search Terms**: Generate a list of keywords and search strings.

## Phase 2: Information Gathering
Use a "Tool-First, Delegate-Second" approach.

### 1. Using Available Tools
- **Web Search**: Perform multiple searches with varying keywords. Don't rely on the first page of results.
- **Document Analysis**: If the user provided files, analyze them first to establish a baseline.
- **Cross-Verification**: Verify facts across at least two independent sources.

### 2. Strategic Delegation
If you lack specific tools (e.g., deep financial data, specialized academic databases) or if the task is too large:
- **Identify the Expert**: Which sub-agent (e.g., Coding Expert, App Wizard, or a general LibrAgent) is best suited?
- **Provide a Precise Brief**: Don't just say "research X". Say "Find the market share of X in 2024 with a focus on the APAC region and provide citations."
- **Integrate Findings**: Actively merge the sub-agent's output into your growing report draft.

## Phase 3: Iterative Synthesis & Drafting
Research and writing should happen in parallel.

1.  **Skeleton First**: Create the report structure as a series of Markdown headers.
2.  **Fill as You Go**: As you find key information, add it to the relevant section immediately.
3.  **Note Information Gaps**: If a section is thin, go back to Phase 2 with more targeted searches.
4.  **Synthesis vs. Copying**: Don't just list facts. Synthesize them to show trends, contradictions, and insights.

## Phase 4: Review & Refinement
Before finishing, perform a quality check:

- **Accuracy**: Are all facts verified and cited?
- **Completeness**: Are all research objectives met?
- **Clarity**: Is the structure logical and the language professional?
- **Objectivity**: Have multiple perspectives been considered?

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## Handling Information Gaps
If you cannot find specific information:
1.  **State the Limitation**: Explicitly mention what could not be found.
2.  **Provide Proxies**: Use related data to make an educated inference (clearly marked as such).
3.  **Suggest Next Steps**: Recommend how the user might find that specific piece of information.

## Citation Standards
- **In-text citations**: Mention the source within the paragraph (e.g., "According to [Source Name], ...").
- **References Section**: List all sources at the end of the report with titles and URLs (if available).
- **Source Diversity**: Aim for a mix of primary sources (official reports, data) and secondary sources (analysis, news).
