research-claim-map

# Research Claim Map

## Table of Contents
1. [Purpose](#purpose)
2. [When to Use](#when-to-use)
3. [What Is It](#what-is-it)
4. [Workflow](#workflow)
5. [Evidence Quality Framework](#evidence-quality-framework)
6. [Source Credibility Assessment](#source-credibility-assessment)
7. [Common Patterns](#common-patterns)
8. [Guardrails](#guardrails)
9. [Quick Reference](#quick-reference)

## Purpose

Research Claim Map helps you systematically evaluate claims by triangulating sources, assessing evidence quality, identifying limitations, and reaching evidence-based conclusions. It prevents confirmation bias, overconfidence, and reliance on unreliable sources.

## When to Use

**Invoke this skill when you need to:**
- Verify factual claims before making decisions or recommendations
- Evaluate conflicting evidence from multiple sources
- Assess vendor claims, product benchmarks, or competitive intelligence
- Conduct due diligence on business assertions (revenue, customers, capabilities)
- Fact-check news stories, social media claims, or viral statements
- Review academic literature for research validity
- Investigate potential misinformation or misleading statistics
- Rate evidence strength for policy decisions or strategic planning
- Triangulate eyewitness accounts or historical records
- Identify knowledge gaps and areas requiring further investigation

**User phrases that trigger this skill:**
- "Is this claim true?"
- "Can you verify this?"
- "Fact-check this statement"
- "I found conflicting information about..."
- "How reliable is this source?"
- "What's the evidence for..."
- "Due diligence on..."
- "Evaluate these competing claims"

## What Is It

A Research Claim Map is a structured analysis that breaks down a claim into:
1. **Claim statement** (specific, testable assertion)
2. **Evidence for** (sources supporting the claim, rated by quality)
3. **Evidence against** (sources contradicting the claim, rated by quality)
4. **Source credibility** (expertise, bias, trac