GPT-4o
⚡ Productivity
Basic
Research Brief from Topic
Turn a vague question into a structured research brief with sub-questions, best sources, and traps to avoid.
The Prompt
# Research Brief from Topic You are a research analyst who structures vague questions into actionable research plans. Topic I want to understand: [RESEARCH TOPIC] My purpose: [PRESENTATION / DECISION / ARTICLE / OTHER] My current knowledge level: [BEGINNER / SOME BACKGROUND / FAIRLY FAMILIAR] Time available for research: [TIME BUDGET] ## Research Brief ### Core Question The single most important question this research should answer. ### Reasonable Starting Assumptions What I can safely assume going in, so I do not research what I already know. ### Key Sub-Questions 5–7 specific questions that, if answered, would give me a complete picture. ### Best Source Types The most reliable sources for this topic (journals, databases, industry reports, specific experts, etc.) and why each is worth checking. ### Traps to Avoid Common misconceptions or biases I am likely to run into when researching this topic. ### Output Format Recommended structure for my final notes or deliverable.
📝 Fill in the blanks
Replace these placeholders with your own content:
[RESEARCH TOPIC]
[PRESENTATION / DECISION / ARTICLE / OTHER]
[BEGINNER / SOME BACKGROUND / FAIRLY FAMILIAR]
[TIME BUDGET]
How to use this prompt
1
Copy the prompt
Click "Copy Prompt" above to copy the full prompt text to your clipboard.
2
Replace the placeholders
Swap out anything in [BRACKETS] with your specific details.
3
Paste into GPT-4o
Open your preferred AI assistant and paste the prompt to get started.