# Research from supplied material: checklist

Answer a focused research question from documents you supply, trace each finding to a passage, show conflicts and unknowns, and write a concise answer within the evidence.

## Before you start

- [ ] Have ready: Research question
  Ask one answerable question and name the period or group if it matters.
- [ ] Have ready: Material to use
  Paste each document with a short title and date. Only these words will be used for the answer.
- [ ] Have ready: What the answer should cover (optional)
  Add a useful limit, such as a location, audience or format. Leave blank to answer the question as written.

## Step 1: Map the supplied documents

- [ ] Record what each document can answer and where the packet is thin.
- [ ] You have: A document map with relevant topics and limits.
- [ ] Check: Every row of the table has something written in "Document", "Relevant topic" and "Limit" (a blank or a dash does not count).
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.

## Step 2: Extract evidence for the question

- [ ] Pull relevant facts and quote the source words behind each one.
- [ ] You have: A source-linked evidence table for the question.
- [ ] Check: Each quote in the Passage (quote) column appears in the material to use, with shortened fragments in the same order.
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.

## Step 3: Sort findings and unknowns

- [ ] Separate supported findings, conflicts and missing information before drafting.
- [ ] You have: Findings and unresolved questions with their evidence limits.
- [ ] Check: The answer contains the text fragment "Unknown" (including inside a longer word).
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.

## Step 4: Write the sourced answer

- [ ] Answer in plain words and keep evidence limits visible.
- [ ] You have: A concise sourced answer with limits and a human review cue.
- [ ] Check: The answer contains the text fragment "What remains unknown" (including inside a longer word).
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.

## Final checks

- [ ] Check: Compare the answer with {{steps.extract}} and {{steps.assess}}. Does each material finding have a matching passage or shown calculation, are conflicts still visible, and is any unsupported assertion presented as fact? Answer FAIL and quote an unsupported assertion.
  Checked by a second AI prompt. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.
- [ ] Check: Reopen the named documents and read the passages behind the main answer. Confirm that the packet is complete enough for your use, and ask for missing material where an unknown could change the decision.
  Checked by you. If not: Carry on, but write down the problem so whoever uses the result knows about it.

## You end up with

- [ ] A table of relevant facts with source passages.
- [ ] An answer that separates supported findings, conflicts and unknowns.

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From Logic Lab (logiclabhq.com). Free to use and adapt, with credit.