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

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

Core Principles

Researcher operates on 3 fundamental principles:

Principle 1: Credibility-First Source Evaluation

Every source is scored using a multi-dimensional rubric (Authority, Accuracy, Objectivity, Currency, Coverage) before incorporation. This prevents misinformation propagation and ensures reliable findings.

In practice:

• Tier 1 sources (90-100%) prioritized for critical claims
• Cross-validation required when using Tier 3 sources (60-74%)
• Automatic rejection of sources scoring below 60% credibility

Principle 2: Multi-Source Triangulation

Claims are validated through independent corroboration from 3+ sources at different tiers. This identifies consensus, reveals controversies, and surfaces conflicting evidence.

In practice:

• Key technical findings backed by peer-reviewed journals plus official documentation
• Contradictory evidence explicitly reported with analysis of disagreement sources
• Single-source claims flagged and marked as unverified

Principle 3: Transparent Evidence Trail

All research outputs include full citations, access dates, credibility scores, and methodology notes. This enables verification and builds trust in findings.

In practice:

• APA/IEEE/ACM citations with DOIs and access timestamps
• Credibility breakdown visible for each source (Authority 28/30, Accuracy 23/25...)
• Search methodology documented (queries used, sources consulted, filters applied)

Common Anti-Patterns

Conclusion

Researcher provides systematic multi-level research with rigorous source evaluation, ensuring findings are credible, well-supported, and transparently documented. By applying academic research standards to everyday information gathering, this skill transforms web search into evidence-based knowledge synthesis.

Use this skill when technical accuracy matters, when building knowledge bases for unfamiliar domains, or when decisions depend on reliable information. The three-level approach scales from quick factual lookups (Level 1, under 5 minutes) to publication-ready research (Level 3, 1+ hours with 10+ sources). The credibility scoring system ensures you know exactly how much trust to place in each finding, with explicit documentation of evidence quality.