Research to a brief

1. 01

   Write the question to answer

   1. Write the decision this research should help someone make.
   2. Set the topic, audience, date range and any limits so the search has a clear stopping point.
   3. In ChatGPT, paste the prompt below with this step’s source material, then send it. Review the answer before carrying it forward.

   Prepare your prompt

   Add your details, then copy the prepared prompt into the tool. This helper combines your text with the task instructions.

   Source material for this step

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   View prepared prompt

   Help turn this request into one answerable research question. State the decision it informs, audience, date range and scope. Flag missing limits rather than inventing them.
   
   Requested output format:
   Finding | Evidence | Source | Uncertainty

   Open ChatGPT (opens in a new tab)

   Start with

   Request/context.

   You’ll have

   Decision question.

   CheckThe question, audience and stopping point are clear.

   ChatGPT’s official guide (opens in a new tab) · Checked 2026-11-11

2. 02

   Find relevant sources

   1. Search for material that directly addresses your question. Prefer original or first-party sources for factual claims.
   2. Keep each useful link, publisher and date in a source list.

   Open ChatGPT (opens in a new tab)

   Start with

   Decision question.

   You’ll have

   Candidate sources.

   CheckThe source list contains working links, publishers and dates.

   Official instructions (opens in a new tab) · Checked 2026-10-28

3. 03

   Choose the sources to compareOptional

   1. Open the candidate sources and check that they cover the right topic, organisation and time period.
   2. Set aside duplicates, irrelevant pages and sources you cannot verify. Record important gaps.

   Start with

   Candidate sources.

   You’ll have

   Selected source set.

   CheckSelected sources address the question and important gaps are noted.
4. 04

   Record the facts with their sources

   1. Use a table to capture each relevant fact or theme beside its source link and date.
   2. Keep quotations distinct from your notes. Record contradictions rather than choosing silently between them.
   3. In ChatGPT, paste the prompt below with this step’s source material, then send it. Review the answer before carrying it forward.

   Prepare your prompt

   Add your details, then copy the prepared prompt into the tool. This helper combines your text with the task instructions.

   Source material for this step

   Copy prompt

   View prepared prompt

   Extract facts relevant to the research question from the supplied source extracts. Use a table: Claim | Source URL | Date | Supporting passage | Limitation. Record contradictions. Do not fill gaps with outside knowledge.
   
   Requested output format:
   Finding | Evidence | Source | Uncertainty

   Open ChatGPT (opens in a new tab)

   Start with

   Source set.

   You’ll have

   Evidence table or structured notes.

   CheckEach fact points to a source and contradictory evidence is visible.

   ChatGPT’s official guide (opens in a new tab) · Checked 2026-11-11

5. 05

   Explain what the evidence means

   1. Group the findings into confirmed facts, uncertainty and implications for the decision.
   2. Explain how each conclusion follows from the evidence. Keep unsupported possibilities clearly labelled.
   3. In Claude, paste the prompt below with this step’s source material, then send it. Review the answer before carrying it forward.

   Prepare your prompt

   Add your details, then copy the prepared prompt into the tool. This helper combines your text with the task instructions.

   Source material for this step

   Copy prompt

   View prepared prompt

   Use this evidence table to explain the main findings and their implications for the decision. Separate supported facts, uncertain points and interpretation. Cite the source IDs for every important conclusion.
   
   Requested output format:
   Finding | Evidence | Source | Uncertainty

   Open Claude (opens in a new tab)

   Start with

   Evidence table.

   You’ll have

   Findings and implications.

   CheckFacts, uncertainty and your interpretation are separate.

   Claude’s file guide (opens in a new tab) · Checked 2026-11-11

6. 06

   Write the research brief

   1. Start with the decision question and the findings that matter most.
   2. Add the implications, unresolved questions and a dated source list so the reader can check the work.

   Start with

   Synthesis plus sources.

   You’ll have

   Final brief.

   CheckThe brief answers the question and the reader can trace its main claims.

0 of 6 step checks complete. The brief answers the original decision question, separates evidence from inference and identifies next actions or remaining unknowns.