Research Case Pattern

Pattern for research projects with literature review, hypothesis formation, and experimentation.

Overview

Use Case: Academic research, market research, technical investigations
Duration: 4-12 weeks
Artifact Focus: Intellectual (protocols, analyses) → Capital (methodologies)

Stages

1. Literature Review

Purpose: Survey existing knowledge
Entry Sentry: Case created
Exit Sentry: Literature summary complete AND peer reviewed

Tasks:

• [Mandatory] Search academic databases
• [Mandatory] Summarize key findings
• [Discretionary] Consult domain experts (if gaps identified)

Artifacts:

• Cognitive: Search notes, paper annotations
• Intellectual: Literature review summary

2. Hypothesis Formation

Purpose: Define research question and hypothesis
Entry Sentry: Literature review complete
Exit Sentry: Hypothesis approved by stakeholders

Tasks:

• [Mandatory] Draft hypothesis
• [Mandatory] Peer review
• [Discretionary] Refine based on feedback

Artifacts:

• Intellectual: Hypothesis document

3. Experiment Design

Purpose: Plan methodology
Entry Sentry: Hypothesis approved
Exit Sentry: Protocol validated

Tasks:

• [Mandatory] Design experiment protocol
• [Mandatory] Statistical power analysis
• [Discretionary] Pilot study (if high uncertainty)

Artifacts:

• Intellectual: Experiment protocol
• Cognitive: Pilot data (if applicable)

4. Execution

Purpose: Conduct experiments
Entry Sentry: Protocol approved
Exit Sentry: Data collection complete

Tasks:

• [Mandatory] Run experiments
• [Mandatory] Record observations
• [Discretionary] Additional data collection (if sample size insufficient)

Artifacts:

• Cognitive: Raw data, lab notes

5. Analysis

Purpose: Process and interpret results
Entry Sentry: Data collected
Exit Sentry: Statistical analysis complete

Tasks:

• [Mandatory] Statistical analysis
• [Mandatory] Visualizations
• [Discretionary] Additional tests (if results inconclusive)

Artifacts:

• Intellectual: Analysis report
• Product: Visualizations, charts

6. Synthesis

Purpose: Conclusions and recommendations
Entry Sentry: Analysis complete
Exit Sentry: Final report approved

Tasks:

• [Mandatory] Draft conclusions
• [Mandatory] Peer review
• [Mandatory] Final presentation

Artifacts:

• Product: Final research report
• Capital: Research methodology (reusable)

PM-Agent Configuration

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pm_agent:
  knowledge_base: research-domain-context
  assignment_rules:
    - Literature search → AI (literature-summarizer-g3)
    - Hypothesis draft → Human (requires judgment)
    - Data analysis → AI (data-analyzer-g3)
    - Final synthesis → Human (stakeholder-facing)

Example Case

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case:
  id: case-ml-framework-research
  template: research_case_pattern
  desired_outcome: "Comparative ML framework analysis"
  duration: 8 weeks
  members:
    - human: principal-investigator
    - ai: literature-summarizer-g3
    - ai: data-analyzer-g3

Last Updated: January 2026