Turn your research into a decision brief

THE USEFUL RESULT

A brief that separates source-backed findings from assumptions and unanswered questions.

Before you start

A precise question or decision
A small set of sources you may use
The date range and criteria that matter

Here’s the workflow

Name the decision

Write the decision in one sentence. Define what would change your mind. Without this, the assistant may produce a long summary that helps you decide nothing.

Build a source ledger

Record title, publisher, date, URL or filename, and why each source matters. For current claims, request current primary sources or provide them yourself.

Extract a comparison

Ask for a table using your criteria. Require a citation next to factual claims and “not found” where a source does not answer the question.

Challenge the draft

Ask which claims rely on assumptions, which sources disagree, and which facts may be out of date. Open the important citations yourself.

Write the brief

Ask for the options, trade-offs, remaining unknowns, and one next research action. Keep your own final decision separate from the assistant’s interpretation.

MAKE THIS PROMPT YOURS

Decision: [decision]. Criteria: [criteria]. Use these sources: [sources]. Create a concise evidence table with a source for each factual claim. Distinguish findings, inferences, and missing information. Do not invent prices, quotes, citations, or source dates. Identify contradictions. Finish with questions I should resolve before deciding.

Replace the bracketed context with approved information. Prompt wording is not a security boundary.

Check before you rely on it

Load-bearing citations open and support the claim.
Historical information is not labeled current.
Unsupported statements are marked as unknown or inference.

When it does not work

Keep the source ledger and fill the comparison manually for the two most important criteria.

Only automate more when it helps

Create a reusable project for this research area. A later scheduled update should name its accessible sources instead of assuming uploaded files are available.