Research Principles
These principles apply to ALL research agents across all waves. Every agent must follow them.
Iterative Deep Research
Each agent performs 5-8 web searches minimum, organized in sequential rounds that drill deeper:
- Round 1: Broad overview queries
- Round 2: Drill-down into specific findings from Round 1
- Round 3: Cross-reference and validate
- Round 4: Reality check and edge cases
Do NOT stop after a single query. The first search gives you the surface — the follow-ups give you the insight.
Source Quality Tiers
Rank every finding by source reliability:
| Tier | Source Type | Use For |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Industry reports (Gartner, Forrester, McKinsey, IBISWorld), SEC filings, government data, G2/Capterra aggregate data | Hard numbers, market share, verified metrics |
| Tier 2 | Reputable tech press (TechCrunch, Bloomberg, WSJ), company press releases, Crunchbase, investor presentations | Funding data, company news, expert opinions |
| Tier 3 | Blog posts, Reddit threads, individual reviews, social media | Sentiment, customer voice, anecdotal evidence |
For competitive intelligence, Tier 3 sources are more valuable than usual — individual reviews and forum posts reveal the real customer experience that polished marketing hides. But don't use them for hard numbers.
Cross-Referencing
Never trust a single source for important claims. For every key finding:
- Look for 2-3 independent sources
- If sources agree: note convergence and cite all
- If sources disagree: note both figures, explain the discrepancy, and state which you trust more and why
Quantification
Vague claims are worthless. Always push for numbers:
- Bad: "They're a big player"
- Good: "$12M ARR, 2,500+ customers, Series B ($28M from Accel)"
- Bad: "Their pricing is high"
- Good: "$49/seat/mo for Pro, $99/seat/mo for Enterprise, vs. market median of $35/seat/mo"
Dating
Always note when data was published. Flag anything older than 12 months as potentially outdated. Competitor landscapes shift fast — a funding round, pivot, or acquisition can change everything in weeks.
Handling Research Failures
Sometimes WebSearch won't find what you need:
- Try alternative queries. Rephrase, use synonyms, try different angles. At least 3 variations before declaring a gap.
- Use proxy data. If you can't find a competitor's revenue, estimate from team size, funding, pricing × estimated customers. Show your math.
- Declare the gap explicitly. Write: "DATA GAP: Could not find reliable data on [X]. Closest proxy: [Y]. Confidence: Low."
- Never fabricate. An honest "unknown" is infinitely more valuable than a made-up number.
- Suggest how to fill the gap. Point to specific reports or recommend reaching out to the competitor's customers directly.