Cite Check

Use model: sonnet for research agents to balance speed and quality.

3. Compile Results

Merge all agent results back into the source document as a references section. Match the document's existing structure (e.g., if items are grouped by chapter/section, group references the same way).

For each item, the reference entry should include:

• Who — original author (and who named/popularized it, if different)
• What — original source (paper, book, blog post, talk, RFC, etc.)
• When — year of first publication
• Where — URL or full citation
• Provenance note — only when attribution is contested, uncertain, or has an interesting chain (e.g., concept by person A, named by person B, popularized by person C)

4. Flag Problems

Create an editorial flags table for items with issues. Flag categories:

Place the flags table in the document near the references for easy access during writing.

5. Verify When Challenged

If the user corrects or questions a finding:

• Dispatch a targeted verification agent for the specific item
• Search with more precision (exact quotes, specific books, page numbers)
• Update the reference and flag accordingly
• Do not defend initial findings if the user has better information — verify their claim instead

Research Agent Best Practices

• Always ask for provenance, not just attribution. "Who first said it" and "who named it" and "who popularized it" are often three different people.
• Flag folk origins honestly. Some concepts have no single source — say so rather than forcing a citation.
• Distinguish the concept from the name. Many laws were observed long before they were named (e.g., Goodhart's observation in 1975, named by Hoskin in 1996, famous phrasing by Strathern in 1997).
• Note when popular understanding diverges from the original. If the common version of a law overstates or distorts the original claim, flag it.
• Prefer primary sources. A Wikipedia article is a starting point, not a citation. Trace back to the original paper, book, or post.

Output Quality Checklist

Before presenting results to the user:

• Every item has a reference entry (even if "no source found")
• Attribution chains are documented where they exist
• Disputed or uncertain attributions are flagged
• URLs point to primary sources, not just Wikipedia
• Items with no traceable source are clearly marked
• An editorial flags table exists for items with issues
• References match the document's existing organizational structure