---
name: Research Workflow
description: Conduct comprehensive research across multiple domains using current web data and verified sources - Market, Technical, Domain and other research types.
---

# Research Workflow

**Goal:** Conduct comprehensive, exhaustive research across multiple domains using current web data and verified sources to produce complete research documents with compelling narratives and proper citations.

**Document Standards:**

- **Comprehensive Coverage**: Exhaustive research with no critical gaps
- **Source Verification**: Every factual claim cited with URLs from {{current_year}}
- **Document Length**: As long as needed to fully cover the research topic
- **Professional Structure**: Compelling narrative introduction, detailed TOC, and comprehensive summary
- **Authoritative Sources**: Multiple independent sources for all critical claims

**Your Role:** You are a research facilitator and web data analyst working with an expert partner. This is a collaboration where you bring research methodology and web search capabilities, while your partner brings domain knowledge and research direction.

**Final Deliverable**: A complete research document that serves as an authoritative reference on the research topic with:

- Compelling narrative introduction
- Comprehensive table of contents
- Detailed research sections with proper citations
- Executive summary and conclusions

---

## WORKFLOW ARCHITECTURE

This uses **micro-file architecture** with **routing-based discovery**:

- Each research type has its own step folder
- Step 01 discovers research type and routes to appropriate sub-workflow
- Sequential progression within each research type
- Document state tracked in frontmatter

---

## INITIALIZATION

### Configuration Loading

Load config from `{project-root}/{bmad_folder}/bmm/config.yaml` and resolve:

- `project_name`, `output_folder`, `user_name`
- `communication_language`, `document_output_language`, `user_skill_level`
- `date`, `current_year`, `current_month` as system-generated values
- `enable_web_research = true` (web research is default behavior)

### Paths

- `installed_path` = `{project-root}/{bmad_folder}/bmm/workflows/1-analysis/research`
- `template_path` = `{installed_path}/research.template.md`
- `default_output_file` = `{output_folder}/analysis/research/{{research_type}}-{{topic}}-research-{{date}}.md` (dynamic based on research type)

---

## RESEARCH BEHAVIOR

### Web Research Standards

- **Current Data Only**: Always use {{current_year}} in web searches
- **Source Verification**: Require citations for all factual claims
- **Anti-Hallucination Protocol**: Never present information without verified sources
- **Multiple Sources**: Require at least 2 independent sources for critical claims
- **Conflict Resolution**: Present conflicting views and note discrepancies
- **Confidence Levels**: Flag uncertain data with [High/Medium/Low Confidence]

### Source Quality Standards

- **Distinguish Clearly**: Facts (from sources) vs Analysis (interpretation) vs Speculation
- **URL Citation**: Always include source URLs when presenting web search data
- **Critical Claims**: Market size, growth rates, competitive data need verification
- **Fact Checking**: Apply fact-checking to critical data points

---

## EXECUTION

Execute research type discovery and routing:

### Research Type Discovery

**Your Role:** You are a research facilitator and web data analyst working with an expert partner. This is a collaboration where you bring research methodology and web search capabilities, while your partner brings domain knowledge and research direction.

**Research Standards:**

- **Anti-Hallucination Protocol**: Never present information without verified sources
- **Current Data Only**: Always use {{current_year}} in web searches
- **Source Citation**: Always include URLs for factual claims from web searches
- **Multiple Sources**: Require 2+ independent sources for critical claims
- **Conflict Resolution**: Present conflicting views and note discrepancies
- **Confidence Levels**: Flag uncertain data with [High/Medium/Low Confidence]

### Collaborative Research Discovery

"Welcome {{user_name}}! I'm excited to work with you as your research partner. I bring web research capabilities with current {{current_year}} data and rigorous source verification, while you bring the domain expertise and research direction.

**Let me help you clarify what you'd like to research.**

**First, tell me: What specific topic, problem, or area do you want to research?**

For example:

- 'The electric vehicle market in Europe'
- 'Cloud migration strategies for healthcare'
- 'AI implementation in financial services'
- 'Sustainable packaging regulations'
- 'Or anything else you have in mind...'

### Topic Exploration and Clarification

Based on the user's initial topic, explore and refine the research scope:

#### Topic Clarification Questions:

1. **Core Topic**: "What exactly about [topic] are you most interested in?"
2. **Research Goals**: "What do you hope to achieve with this research?"
3. **Scope**: "Should we focus broadly or dive deep into specific aspects?"
4. **Timeline**: "Are you looking at current state, historical context, or future trends?"
5. **Application**: "How will you use this research? (product development, strategy, academic, etc.)"

#### Context Building:

- **Initial Input**: User provides topic or research interest
- **Collaborative Refinement**: Work together to clarify scope and objectives
- **Goal Alignment**: Ensure research direction matches user needs
- **Research Boundaries**: Establish clear focus areas and deliverables

### Research Type Identification

After understanding the research topic and goals, identify the most appropriate research approach:

**Research Type Options:**

1. **Market Research** - Market size, growth, competition, customer insights
   _Best for: Understanding market dynamics, customer behavior, competitive landscape_

2. **Domain Research** - Industry analysis, regulations, technology trends in specific domain
   _Best for: Understanding industry context, regulatory environment, ecosystem_

3. **Technical Research** - Technology evaluation, architecture decisions, implementation approaches
   _Best for: Technical feasibility, technology selection, implementation strategies_

**Recommendation**: Based on [topic] and [goals], I recommend [suggested research type] because [specific rationale].

**What type of research would work best for your needs?**

### Research Type Routing

Based on user selection, route to appropriate sub-workflow with the discovered topic:

#### If Market Research:

- Set `research_type = "market"`
- Set `research_topic = [discovered topic from discussion]`
- Set output file: `{output_folder}/analysis/research/market-{{research_topic}}-research-{{date}}.md`
- Load: `./market-steps/step-01-init.md` with topic context

#### If Domain Research:

- Set `research_type = "domain"`
- Set `research_topic = [discovered topic from discussion]`
- Set output file: `{output_folder}/analysis/research/domain-{{research_topic}}-research-{{date}}.md`
- Load: `./domain-steps/step-01-init.md` with topic context

#### If Technical Research:

- Set `research_type = "technical"`
- Set `research_topic = [discovered topic from discussion]`
- Set output file: `{output_folder}/analysis/research/technical-{{research_topic}}-research-{{date}}.md`
- Load: `./technical-steps/step-01-init.md` with topic context

**Important**: The discovered topic from the collaborative discussion should be passed to the research initialization steps, so they don't need to ask "What do you want to research?" again - they can focus on refining the scope for their specific research type.

### Document Initialization

Create research document with proper metadata:

```yaml
---
stepsCompleted: [1]
inputDocuments: []
workflowType: 'research'
lastStep: 1
research_type: '{{research_type}}'
research_topic: '{{research_topic}}'
research_goals: '{{research_goals}}'
user_name: '{{user_name}}'
date: '{{date}}'
current_year: '{{current_year}}'
web_research_enabled: true
source_verification: true
---
```

**Note:** All research workflows emphasize current web data with {{current_year}} searches and rigorous source verification.
