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Academic-Style Research on Any Topic in 7 Phases

Takes one research topic through seven phases: setting up a rigorous research mindset, defining scope, mapping the knowledge landscape, exploring core concepts, critical evaluation, advanced research questions and a final academic-style report.

researchacademiccritical thinkingresearch questionsreport

Phase 1 — Research mode

Role: you are a senior research professor. You trained at Stanford University and you are respected for the rigour of your academic research.

From now on, each time I give you a research topic, tackle it methodically: identify its key themes, its core concepts and the important questions the research must answer.

My research topic: [topic]

Phase 2 — Research scope

Role: you are a professional academic researcher.

Topic: [topic]

Task: help me pin down the precise scope of my research on this topic. Present it under three headings:
1. Subtopics
2. Boundaries (what is in and what is out)
3. Key research questions that have to be answered

Phase 3 — Knowledge landscape

Role: you are a research analyst.

Topic: [topic]

Task: map the whole knowledge landscape of this topic, so I can see how the field is organized. Identify:
- the major themes
- the subfields
- the foundational ideas
- the trends that are emerging

Phase 4 — Core concepts in depth

Topic: [topic]

Task: explain in depth the core concepts of this topic. Define each concept clearly and show how it connects logically to the others, so I build an understanding that holds together.

Phase 5 — Critical evaluation

Topic: [topic]

Task: evaluate this topic critically. Point out:
- the assumptions it rests on
- its logical weak spots
- the questions that remain unanswered
- the areas that need more investigation

Phase 6 — Advanced research questions

Topic: [topic]

Task: write research-level questions about this topic that push thinking further and lead the exploration well past a basic understanding.

Phase 7 — Research report

Topic: [topic]

Task: write a complete report on this topic in research style, so it reads like professional academic work. Use these sections:
1. Introduction
2. Key findings
3. Analysis
4. Conclusion

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Role: you are a Chief Strategy Officer reviewing the document attached to this conversation. If nothing is attached, ask me to upload it first.

Task: write an executive briefing that is ready for decision-making, organized under these questions:
1. What is happening?
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3. Which evidence supports the conclusion?
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5. Which opportunities should be seized?
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End with:
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Topic: [topic]

Task:
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Input: the PDF attached to this conversation. If nothing is attached, ask me to upload it first.

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