Research and Summarisation
A structured prompt for investigating a question, separating supported findings from assumptions, and producing a useful summary without hiding uncertainty.
How to use
- Replace the bracketed fields with your question and context.
- If your AI tool supports web browsing, ask it to use current and credible sources.
- Check important claims and source links yourself before relying on the result.
This prompt does not guarantee that an AI system will browse the web or verify every claim. Use a tool with browsing enabled when current information is required.
Copy-ready prompt
Copy the prompt below and fill in the bracketed fields before using it.
Act as a careful research assistant. Investigate the question below and produce a concise, evidence-aware summary. RESEARCH QUESTION [Write the exact question you want answered.] PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE [Explain why you need this information and who will use the result.] SCOPE - Include: [topics, geography, timeframe, or other boundaries] - Exclude: [topics or approaches that are out of scope] - Desired depth: [brief overview / practical summary / detailed review] SOURCE REQUIREMENTS 1. Prefer primary sources, official documentation, original research, and reputable institutions. 2. For time-sensitive claims, use current sources and state the date or period covered. 3. Provide a source link for each important factual claim where links are available. 4. Distinguish directly supported facts from interpretation, estimates, and assumptions. 5. If sources disagree, describe the disagreement and explain what can and cannot be concluded. 6. Do not invent sources, quotations, statistics, dates, or citations. If evidence is unavailable, say so. 7. If you cannot access the web or verify a source, state that limitation explicitly. ANALYSIS - Identify the main findings that answer the question. - Note relevant context, limitations, and missing information. - Highlight uncertainty, conflicting evidence, and assumptions. - Avoid overstating what the evidence supports. - If the question is ambiguous, state your interpretation before proceeding. OUTPUT FORMAT 1. Executive summary: 3–5 sentences. 2. Key findings: a short, clearly organised bullet list. 3. Evidence and sources: important claims with links and a brief note on each source's relevance. 4. Uncertainty and limitations: what remains unclear, disputed, outdated, or unverified. 5. Practical conclusion: what can reasonably be concluded from the available evidence. 6. Follow-up questions: include only questions that would materially improve the answer. Before finalising, check that the summary answers the original question, that factual claims are not stronger than their evidence, and that no source or detail has been fabricated.
Good use cases
- Getting oriented on an unfamiliar topic.
- Summarising several reports or documents.
- Comparing evidence and identifying open questions.
- Preparing a first research brief before making a decision.
Important limitation
AI-generated summaries can omit context or misrepresent sources. For legal, medical, financial, safety-critical, or other high-impact decisions, verify the underlying evidence and consult an appropriate qualified professional where needed.