BMAD-METHOD/bmad-core/checklists/research-quality-checklist.md

Research Quality Checklist

Pre-Research Planning

Research Objective Clarity

• Research objective is specific and measurable
• Success criteria are clearly defined
• Scope boundaries are explicitly stated
• Decision context and impact are understood
• Timeline and priority constraints are documented

Research Strategy Design

• Multi-perspective approach is appropriate for complexity
• Domain specializations are properly assigned
• Research team size matches scope and timeline
• Potential overlap between perspectives is minimized
• Research methodologies are appropriate for objectives

Prior Research Review

• Research log has been searched for related work
• Prior research relevance has been assessed
• Strategy for building on existing work is defined
• Duplication prevention measures are in place

During Research Execution

Source Quality and Credibility

• Sources are credible and authoritative
• Information recency is appropriate for topic
• Source diversity provides multiple viewpoints
• Potential bias in sources is identified and noted
• Primary sources are prioritized over secondary when available

Research Methodology

• Research approach is systematic and thorough
• Domain expertise lens is consistently applied
• Web search capabilities are effectively utilized
• Information gathering covers all assigned perspective areas
• Analysis frameworks are appropriate for domain

Quality Assurance

• Key findings are supported by multiple sources
• Conflicting information is properly documented
• Uncertainty levels are clearly identified
• Source citations are complete and verifiable
• Analysis stays within assigned domain perspective

Synthesis and Integration

Multi-Perspective Synthesis

• Findings from all researchers are properly integrated
• Convergent insights are clearly identified
• Divergent viewpoints are fairly represented
• Conflicts between perspectives are analyzed and explained
• Gaps requiring additional research are documented

Analysis Quality

• Key findings directly address research objectives
• Evidence supports conclusions and recommendations
• Limitations and uncertainties are transparently documented
• Alternative interpretations are considered
• Recommendations are actionable and specific

Documentation Standards

• Executive summary captures key insights effectively
• Detailed analysis is well-organized and comprehensive
• Source documentation enables verification
• Research methodology is clearly explained
• Classification tags are accurate and complete

Final Deliverable Review

Completeness

• All research questions have been addressed
• Success criteria have been met
• Output format matches requestor requirements
• Supporting documentation is complete
• Next steps and follow-up needs are identified

Decision Support Quality

• Findings directly inform decision-making needs
• Confidence levels help assess decision risk
• Recommendations are prioritized and actionable
• Implementation considerations are addressed
• Risk factors and mitigation strategies are provided

Integration and Handoff

• Results are properly formatted for requesting agent
• Research log has been updated with new entry
• Index categorization is accurate and searchable
• Cross-references to related research are included
• Handoff communication includes key highlights

Post-Research Evaluation

Research Effectiveness

• Research objectives were successfully achieved
• Timeline and resource constraints were managed effectively
• Quality standards were maintained throughout process
• Research contributed meaningfully to decision-making
• Lessons learned are documented for process improvement

Knowledge Management

• Research artifacts are properly stored and indexed
• Key insights are preserved for future reference
• Research methodology insights can inform future efforts
• Source directories and contacts are updated
• Process improvements are identified and documented

Quality Escalation Triggers

Immediate Review Required

• Major conflicts between research perspectives cannot be reconciled
• Key sources are found to be unreliable or biased
• Research scope significantly exceeds original boundaries
• Critical information gaps prevent objective completion
• Timeline constraints threaten quality standards

Process Improvement Needed

• Repeated issues with source credibility or access
• Frequent scope creep or objective changes
• Consistent challenges with perspective coordination
• Quality standards frequently not met on first attempt
• Research effectiveness below expectations

Continuous Improvement

Research Process Enhancement

• Track research effectiveness and decision impact
• Identify patterns in research requests and optimize approaches
• Refine domain specialization profiles based on experience
• Improve synthesis techniques and template effectiveness
• Enhance coordination methods between research perspectives

Knowledge Base Development

• Update research methodologies based on lessons learned
• Expand credible source directories with new discoveries
• Improve domain expertise profiles with refined specializations
• Enhance template structures based on user feedback
• Develop best practices guides for complex research scenarios