The Deep Research Workflow
A free guide by Kamran Imam — Instagram · TikTok · YouTube
Research without a process is just professional tab-hoarding. This is the five-step loop I use for any question that matters — it works with Claude’s web search, deep-research modes, or plain old reading.
Step 1 — define “answered”
I need to research [topic] because [decision it feeds]. Turn this into: the core question, the 4-6 sub-questions that would settle it, and for each — what a good enough answer looks like. If my question is actually two questions, split them.Skipping this step is why research expands forever. You can’t finish what you never defined.
Step 2 — plan before you search
For each sub-question, tell me: where the best evidence probably lives (official stats, filings, industry reports, practitioner forums, review sites, academic work), what search terms professionals would use (not the amateur phrasing), and the trap sources to avoid.Step 3 — gather with source discipline
As you (or the AI) collect, keep a running log with three columns: claim, source, quality grade (A = primary data/official, B = credible secondary, C = someone said so). The grade matters more than the claim — a C-grade “fact” repeated in ten articles is still C-grade.
Step 4 — synthesize, don’t summarize
Here's everything gathered, with source grades: [paste]. Now: (1) answer each sub-question in 2-3 sentences with a confidence level, (2) state where sources disagree and which is likelier right and why, (3) list what we still don't know that matters, (4) give the overall answer to the core question as: 'Answer — confidence — what would change it.'The “where sources disagree” section is where the real insight usually lives. Agreement is often just repetition.
Step 5 — pressure-test
Argue against the answer we just reached. What's the strongest case that we're wrong? Which single piece of evidence is carrying too much weight? If a domain expert read this, what would make them wince?Timeboxes that keep you honest
Quick question → 25 minutes, one pass through the loop. Real decision → half a day, two passes. Bet-the-business → the full loop plus a human expert conversation (/r/consultant #26 has the expert-call script).
Related: /r/spy · /r/consultant (section B)
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