Citation Chain

Invoke this skill with your papers:

/citation-chain

Trace conceptual history across these papers on [topic]:
[list of papers or paths]

Analysis Instructions

Step 1: Identify Top 3 Concepts

Scan all papers to find the 3 concepts that appear most frequently, defined as:

• Named explicitly by multiple authors
• Debated or discussed across papers (not just mentioned)
• Built upon or referenced as foundational to arguments

Examples of concepts: "working memory," "social capital," "algorithmic fairness," "attention mechanism"

Step 2: Trace Each Concept's Intellectual History

For each of the 3 concepts, use only evidence from the uploaded papers to answer:

A. Origin

• Who first introduced or defined this concept within this paper set?
• How was it originally defined? (1-2 sentence summary)
• What problem was it meant to solve?

B. Challenge

• Which paper(s) questioned or challenged the concept?
• What was the nature of the challenge? (methodological doubt, conceptual critique, empirical disconfirmation)
• How serious was the challenge? (minor refinement vs. fundamental questioning)

If no paper challenged it, state: "No challenges identified in this literature set."

C. Refinement

• Which paper(s) modified or extended the concept?
• What changes were made? (narrowed scope, added dimensions, integrated with other concepts)
• Did the refinement gain acceptance across papers?

If no refinement occurred, state: "No refinements identified in this literature set."

D. Current Status

Based solely on evidence in these papers, classify as:

• Settled - widely accepted, no active debate, used consistently
• Contested - active disagreement about definition, validity, or application
• Evolving - undergoing refinement, new dimensions being added, applications expanding

Justify your classification with specific evidence from papers.

Step 3: Visualize the Chain

For each concept, create a timeline-style outline:

Concept → Challenge → Refinement → Current Status
[Origin paper] → [Challenger] → [Refiner] → [Assessment]

Important Guidelines

• Use only uploaded papers - do not guess or infer from outside knowledge
• Be evidence-based - cite specific papers for each claim about origin/challenge/refinement
• State what's missing - if a concept lacks a clear challenger or refinement, say so explicitly
• Focus on substance - track conceptual evolution, not just citation counts
• Be selective - analyze 3 concepts thoroughly rather than 10 superficially

Output Format

Use the template to create structured concept histories.

Next Steps

After tracing citation chains, consider:

• /assumption-killer - Examine if foundational concepts rest on untested assumptions
• /gap-scanner - Identify where conceptual development needs to go next
• /master-synthesis - Integrate concept histories into broader literature synthesis