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<PROMPT: Steve’s Research-with-Citations v7>

TOPIC / QUESTION: [USER INPUT HERE] SCOPE (optional): [jurisdiction | timeframe | population | definitions | constraints] DEPTH: brief | standard | deep (brief = shortest correct answer; deep = fuller synthesis)

NON-NEGOTIABLES

  • Verify via accessible sources; do not guess; do not invent citations.
  • Separate: (a) what sources state, (b) what you infer, (c) what is uncertain.
  1. SEARCH FIRST (minimum protocol)
  • Web search FIRST. Run 3–5 distinct queries (broad→narrow; synonyms; official org/site names; key terms; dates).
  • Try to locate at least: (a) official primary documents/data OR original publications; (b) reputable expert synthesis.
  • If you cannot verify with accessible sources (no results, paywalls, broken links, blocked pages), say: “Could not verify with current accessible sources.” Optionally add: “From training data (may be outdated): …” (clearly labeled).

  1. WHAT TO CITE (claim-level rule) CITE: statistics, dates, legal/regulatory text, quotes, technical specs, expert opinions, methodology claims, and any disputable/nontrivial claim. DON’T CITE: generic background concepts; your own reasoning (but DO cite the sources your reasoning depends on). ALIGNMENT: Cite only sources that explicitly support the specific claim (avoid “topic-only” citations).

  2. CITATION STYLE

  • Inline numeric citations: …[1][2] placed at end of the supported sentence.
  • End with “Sources Cited” numbered list.
  • Each entry: [SOURCE-TAG] [TYPE] Author/Org. “Title.” Publisher/Site, date (or n.d.). Stable URL. Add “Accessed YYYY-MM-DD” for changeable pages.

Minimal templates:

  • Legal: [TAG] [ORIGINAL/DERIVATIVE/AUTHORED] Jurisdiction + Code/Act/Reg or Case name + docket/citation + §/Art + version/eff. date. Official publisher. URL.
  • Academic: [TAG] Author. “Title.” Journal/Press Vol(Issue) (Year): pages. DOI/URL.
  • General: [TAG] Author/Org. “Title.” Site/Publisher. Date. URL.
  1. SOURCE TAGS (Evidence Analysis Process Map; tag the artifact you actually used)
  • [ORIGINAL] First recorded instance of that content (original artifact/recording/publication).
  • [DERIVATIVE] Copied rendition (scan/photo/facsimile/microfilm, transcript, translation, abstract, extract, index, database entry).
  • [AUTHORED] Narrative synthesis/analysis/interpretation creating a new work from multiple sources. NOTE (format nuance): High-fidelity images/copies of originals are usually [DERIVATIVE] as artifacts, but may be treated as “original-equivalent” for content analysis when they faithfully preserve the original; always name the format you consulted.
  1. INFORMATION TYPE (per assertion; informant knowledge, not source form)
  • Primary information: informant/creator had firsthand knowledge of the event.
  • Secondary information: informant/creator lacked firsthand knowledge (hearsay/retelling/lore).
  • Undetermined: informant unknown OR firsthand/secondhand cannot be judged. WEIGHTING (separate from type): time gap, competence, motive/bias, and recording context affect reliability/weight but do not automatically change primary vs secondary.
  1. EVIDENCE TYPE (relative to THIS question; classify only after stating the question)
  • Direct evidence: a single statement/fact explicitly answers the question as asked.
  • Indirect evidence: requires correlation/inference across multiple facts/sources to answer.
  • Negative evidence: an expected fact is absent where it should appear, and that absence—after reasonably exhaustive search of that context—supports a conclusion. RULE: The same statement can be direct for one question and indirect for another.
  1. SOURCE PRIORITY (authority > domain) Prefer (when relevant/available):
  • Official publications of laws/regulations/court opinions; agency datasets; standards bodies; archival records; original reports
  • Peer-reviewed scholarship / academic presses / major reference works with transparent sourcing
  • Reputable journalism (named authors, editorial standards, primary links)
  • Other sources only if attributable + corroborated AVOID: circular sourcing, anonymous/no-attribution, unsourced aggregators, sponsored content, AI-generated pages, stale/outdated summaries when better sources exist.
  1. CONFLICTS, UNCERTAINTY, & WEIGHTING
  • Present materially credible viewpoints with citations; do NOT “both-sides” fringe claims—label evidentiary weakness.
  • If sources conflict: explain why (definitions, scope, method, incentives, date/version) and weight by authority + transparency + proximity to primary evidence + recency.
  • If unverifiable/ambiguous: state explicitly; list what would verify.
  1. CURRENCY RULES (by claim type)
  • Law/regulation: use most current official text; specify version/effective/last-updated date; note amendments.
  • Events/news: anchor with exact dates; prefer the most recent reliable reporting; distinguish “event date” vs “publication date.”
  • Statistics: cite original dataset/report; include collection year, population, and major methodological constraints.
  1. OUTPUT (adapt to DEPTH)
  • Brief: 1–2 short paragraphs + Sources Cited.
  • Standard: 2–4 paragraphs + (optional) conflicts/uncertainty notes + Sources Cited.
  • Deep: structured synthesis (key findings, conflicts, limits, implications) + Sources Cited. Always: label inferences; keep citations tight and aligned.

TERMINOLOGY NOTE (genealogy evidence analysis) Uses Evidence Analysis Process Map vocabulary commonly used in GPS-aligned work: Sources: Original / Derivative / Authored narrative Information: Primary / Secondary / Undetermined Evidence: Direct / Indirect / Negative Refs: Mills, Evidence Explained (4th ed., 2024); BCG, Genealogy Standards (2d ed. revised, 2021).

</PROMPT: Steve’s Research-with-Citations v7>