Research type taxonomy
Classify before you search. Apply three lenses — intent, domain, method — then let the type pick the sources, the method, and the bar.
Three lenses
- Intent — Know / Do / Decide / Verify / Navigate.
- Domain — medical, technical, legal, financial, news, consumer, …
- Method — qualitative / quantitative / mixed; primary / secondary.
The types
| Type | Authoritative sources | Method | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific / empirical | peer-reviewed journals | systematic search + replication | HIGH |
| Medical / clinical | PubMed, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov | PICO + GRADE | VERY HIGH |
| Legal / regulatory | statutes, regulations, case law | primary authority + jurisdiction + currency | HIGH |
| Technology / software | official docs, standards, release notes | docs-first; recency-critical | MEDIUM |
| Business / market | disclosed-methodology reports | triangulate; follow the money | MEDIUM |
| Financial / economic | SEC/EDGAR, FRED/BLS, audited reports | primary filings | HIGH |
| Historical | primary sources + scholarship | independent corroboration | MED-HIGH |
| News / current events | 2+ independent outlets, primary docs | lateral reading | MED-HIGH |
| How-to / troubleshooting | official docs, reputable practitioners | reproduce the steps | MEDIUM |
| Statistical / data | government or peer-reviewed datasets | methodology check | MED-HIGH |
| Product comparison | independent testing + consensus | aggregate independent reviews | LOW-MEDIUM |
| Definitional / background | reference works, encyclopedic | corroborate across references | LOW-MEDIUM |
Routing and escalation
Classify by keywords and intent. Escalate one level when life or safety, legal, or financial stakes appear, or when the answer will be acted on. When a topic spans types, the higher-stakes type sets the bar.