Research Skill
Tool-assisted research with Tavily integration. Transforms basic questions into comprehensive search strategies using AI-optimized web search.
Setup
This skill includes a bundled Tavily CLI script at scripts/tavily-cli.ts.
Requirements
- Deno - Install from https://deno.land
- Tavily API Key - Get one at https://tavily.com (free tier available)
Configuration
Set your API key:
export TAVILY_API_KEY="your-key-here"
Create an alias for convenience (add to your shell profile):
alias tavily='deno run --allow-net --allow-env /path/to/skills/research/scripts/tavily-cli.ts'
Or run directly:
deno run --allow-net --allow-env ./scripts/tavily-cli.ts "your query"
Commands below use tavily assuming the alias is configured.
Quick Reference
Common Commands
tavily "your query"
tavily "your query" --answer
tavily "your query" --depth advanced --results 10 --answer
tavily "your query" --topic news --time week
tavily "your query" --exclude wikipedia.org,reddit.com
Phase Summary
| Phase |
Type |
Purpose |
| 0 |
Manual |
Analyze topic, set scope |
| 1 |
Tavily |
Discover expert terminology |
| 2 |
Tavily |
Foundational search |
| 3 |
Tavily |
Counter-perspectives |
| 4 |
Manual |
Synthesize findings |
Scope → Tavily Depth
| Decision Stakes |
Tavily Settings |
| Low, reversible |
--depth basic --results 3 |
| Moderate |
--depth basic --results 5 --answer |
| High, irreversible |
--depth advanced --results 10 --answer |
Phase 0: Analysis
Goal: Structure topic before searching. Prevents unfocused searches and scope mismatch.
Scope Calibration
Before searching, assess stakes:
| Decision Type |
Confidence Needed |
Research Depth |
| Reversible, low-stakes |
60-70% |
Quick scan (minutes) |
| Reversible, moderate |
75-85% |
Working knowledge |
| Irreversible, moderate |
85-90% |
Solid grounding |
| Irreversible, high |
90-95% |
Deep expertise |
Analysis Template
# Research Analysis: [Topic]
## Core Concepts
- **Primary terms:** [Key terms requiring definition]
- **Terminology variants:** [Synonyms, jargon, historical terms]
- **Ambiguous terms:** [Terms with multiple meanings]
## Stakeholders
- **Primary actors:** [Who is directly involved?]
- **Affected groups:** [Who bears consequences?]
- **Opposing interests:** [Who benefits from different outcomes?]
## Temporal Scope
- **Historical origins:** [When did this begin?]
- **Key transitions:** [What changed and when?]
- **Current state:** [What's happening now?]
## Domains
- **Primary field:** [Main discipline]
- **Adjacent fields:** [Related disciplines]
## Controversies
- **Active debates:** [What's contested?]
- **Competing frameworks:** [Different ways of understanding]
Phase 0 Checklist
Phase 1: Vocabulary Discovery
Goal: Discover expert terminology to unlock deeper search results.
Why Vocabulary Matters
- Outsider terms → introductory material
- Expert terms → research, nuanced analysis
- Cross-domain terms → bridge bodies of work
Tavily Commands for Vocabulary Discovery
| Discovery Need |
Command |
| Expert terminology |
tavily "[topic] terminology experts" --answer |
| Academic terms |
tavily "[topic] academic research terminology" --answer |
| Cross-domain synonyms |
tavily "[topic] also known as called" --answer |
| Historical terms |
tavily "[topic] history original term" --answer |
Vocabulary Discovery Process
-
Run initial terminology search:
tavily "[topic] terminology" --answer --results 5
-
From results, note:
- Expert terms (technical vocabulary)
- Outsider terms (popular/introductory language)
- Cross-domain equivalents
-
Update vocabulary map (template below)
-
Re-run searches with expert terms:
tavily "[expert-term]" --answer
-
Compare result quality - expert terms should surface deeper content
Vocabulary Map Template
## Core Terms
|------|--------|-------------|
| [expert term] | [field] | Expert |
| [outsider term] | General | Introductory |
## Cross-Domain Synonyms
|---------|-----------------|
| [concept] | Field A: [term], Field B: [term] |
## Depth Indicators
|-------|-------|-------------------|
| Introductory | [terms] | Overviews, explainers |
| Expert | [terms] | Research, nuanced analysis |
Phase 1 Checklist
Phase 2: Foundational Search
Goal: Build foundational understanding with authoritative sources.
Question Pattern → Tavily Command
| Question Pattern |
Strategy |
Command |
| "What is X?" |
Consensus from authorities |
tavily "[expert-term] definition" --answer --depth advanced |
| "Should I X?" |
Pros/cons, alternatives |
tavily "[expert-term] pros cons comparison" --answer |
| "Is X true?" |
Evidence, counter-evidence |
tavily "[claim] evidence research" --answer --depth advanced |
| "How do I X?" |
Step-by-step, pitfalls |
tavily "[expert-term] guide tutorial" --answer |
| Historical context |
Origins and evolution |
tavily "[topic] history origins development" --answer |
Source Type Selection
| Source Type |
Best For |
Tavily Approach |
| Academic/Research |
Mechanism, causation |
--depth advanced --results 10 |
| Practitioner content |
How things work, edge cases |
--topic general --answer |
| News/Current |
Recent developments |
--topic news --time week |
| Official docs |
Technical specs, policy |
--include [official-domain] |
Foundational Search Process
-
Start with expert terminology from Phase 1
-
Run foundational queries:
tavily "[expert-term] comprehensive overview" --answer --depth advanced
tavily "[expert-term] major approaches" --answer --results 7
-
For each major perspective found, get 2-3 authoritative sources:
tavily "[perspective-name] [expert-term]" --answer --results 5
-
Track sources in research notes
Phase 2 Checklist
Phase 3: Counter-Perspective Search
Goal: Explicitly find opposing viewpoints to avoid confirmation bias.
Why Counter-Perspectives Matter
Single-perspective research:
- All sources support one viewpoint
- Missing counterarguments
- Echo chamber risk
Tavily Commands for Counter-Perspectives
| Need |
Command |
| General criticism |
tavily "[topic] criticism problems" --answer |
| Opposing viewpoint |
tavily "[topic] skeptics critique" --answer |
| Alternative approaches |
tavily "[topic] alternatives instead of" --answer |
| Failure cases |
tavily "[topic] failures when wrong" --answer |
| Avoid echo chamber |
tavily "[topic] debate" --exclude [familiar-sources] |
Counter-Perspective Process
-
Identify your current understanding/lean
-
Search for strongest counterargument:
tavily "[topic] strongest argument against" --answer --depth advanced
-
Exclude sources you've already seen:
tavily "[topic]" --exclude [domains-already-searched]
-
Search for failure modes:
tavily "[topic] when fails problems limitations" --answer
-
Document opposing perspectives in research notes
Phase 3 Checklist
