Research [RESEARCH QUESTION] for [AUDIENCE AND USE CASE]. Use this scope: [SCOPE AND TIMEFRAME]. Prioritize these source types and materials: [SOURCE REQUIREMENTS]. I already have these sources or notes: [STARTING MATERIAL]. Produce a structured research brief, not a persuasive essay. Start with a 75-125 word answer that states the conclusion, its confidence level, and the main limitation. Then provide: key findings; a claim-to-source table; competing evidence or interpretations; gaps and uncertainties; and a source list with direct links, publisher or author, publication date, and access date. For every material factual claim, attach an inline citation that lets me find the supporting source. Distinguish clearly among direct evidence, reasonable inference, and unsupported hypothesis. Prefer primary sources, official datasets, original studies, filings, regulations, and direct statements where appropriate. Use reputable secondary reporting only for context, and identify it as secondary. If sources disagree, explain the likely reason, such as different definitions, populations, methods, dates, incentives, or sample sizes.
Do not fabricate citations, quotations, figures, study results, URLs, or access to paywalled material. Do not treat a search snippet, social post, or AI-generated text as evidence. Quote only when exact wording matters, and keep quotes short. For medical, legal, financial, or safety decisions, state that this is research support and identify what qualified professional or primary authority should review it. Before answering, run two checks: 1) identify every conclusion that exceeds the evidence; 2) flag every claim with no reliable source, outdated support, or a source that does not actually support it. Ask up to 3 clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [RESEARCH QUESTION] | State the precise question you need answered. | What evidence shows that four-day workweeks affect employee retention in knowledge-work companies? |
| [AUDIENCE AND USE CASE] | Explain who will read the brief and the decision, article, or project it will inform. | People team preparing a board discussion about piloting a four-day workweek. |
| [SCOPE AND TIMEFRAME] | Define geography, population, definitions, date range, and exclusions. | English-language studies and company data from 2019-2026; focus on salaried knowledge workers; exclude compressed five-day schedules. |
| [SOURCE REQUIREMENTS] | Specify preferred primary sources, jurisdictions, databases, or standards. | Prioritize peer-reviewed studies, original pilot reports, company retention data, and government labor statistics. |
| [STARTING MATERIAL] | Paste links, documents, notes, or state that you have none. | The 4 Day Week Global UK pilot report and internal turnover data for 2024-2026. |
How to use
- Narrow the question until it names the population, outcome, and time period you need.
- Paste source links or notes and state which sources count as authoritative for the decision.
- Trace each recommendation back to the claim-to-source table before reusing it.
- Follow up with: “Audit this brief as a skeptical reviewer and list the three claims most likely to be overstated.”
Variations
Evidence table
Use when you already have a group of sources to compare.
Build an evidence table from these sources: [SOURCES]. Answer this question: [QUESTION]. Create columns for source, date, source type, population or jurisdiction, method, key finding, limitations, conflict of interest, and exact relevance to the question. Separate what the source directly establishes from my possible inference. Do not fill missing fields by guessing. Flag inaccessible, outdated, non-primary, or weakly relevant sources.
Citation audit
Use before publishing a sourced article or memo.
Audit the citations in [DRAFT OR CLAIM LIST] against these source links: [SOURCES]. For each factual claim, label it supported, partly supported, unsupported, outdated, or unverifiable. Explain the mismatch in one sentence and propose a narrower supported wording where possible. Check that numbers, dates, populations, and causal language match the evidence. Do not create replacement citations or assume a source says more than provided.
Policy research
Use for a question involving a law, regulation, or official rule.
Research the current rule on [POLICY QUESTION] for [JURISDICTION] as of [DATE]. Prioritize official legislation, regulator guidance, and court or agency materials. Produce a short plain-language summary, scope and exceptions, effective dates, direct citations and links, and open questions requiring a qualified [PROFESSIONAL TYPE]. Do not give individualized legal advice, rely on blogs as authority, or infer compliance obligations beyond the official text.
Tips
- Write the research question so a source could prove it wrong; “Does X improve retention for Y?” is more usable than “Why X is good.”
- Record the date you accessed web sources because pages, dashboards, and regulations can change after the brief is written.
- Use one row per claim when stakes are high. A paragraph may cite a source, yet still overstate what that source measured.
- Treat causal verbs such as “causes,” “prevents,” and “drives” as a separate review point; many sources establish correlation only.
FAQ
Can ChatGPT provide real citations?
It can organize and cite sources it can access, but citations must be checked at the linked source. Never rely on a plausible-looking citation without opening it.
What sources should I prioritize?
Start with the source closest to the underlying fact: original research, official data, regulations, filings, or direct records. Use secondary reporting to add context.
How do I handle conflicting sources?
Compare dates, definitions, methodology, populations, and incentives before choosing a conclusion. Report the disagreement rather than averaging it away.