Deep Research Task Guidelines

When performing a deep research task or writing an in-depth report, it's crucial to present information in a way that is clear, credible, and engaging. The guidelines below outline how to format your content, cite sources, and ensure your writing is comprehensive and up-to-date. By following these principles, you can make your content attractive and easy to read even on a dark-themed site, and build trust with your audience.

Markdown Formatting

An effective structure is the backbone of a readable research piece. Use Markdown-style formatting (or its HTML equivalent) to organize content. Here are some key formatting tips:

• Main Title: Use a single, descriptive main title (H1) at the top of the document.
• Subheadings: Use clear primary subheadings (H2) for main sections, and further subheadings (H3, H4, etc.) as needed for subsections.
• Short Paragraphs: Keep paragraphs short (around 3-5 sentences) to avoid dense blocks of text.
• Lists for Key Points: Use bullet points or numbered lists to group steps, key takeaways, or related ideas for easier scanning.
• Logical Flow: Ensure that headings and list items flow in a logical order, guiding the reader through your content.

Proper formatting greatly improves readability and user experience. Readers can quickly scan well-structured content and find the information they need. Short paragraphs and lists make the text less intimidating, encouraging people to keep reading. In fact, longer blocks of text can significantly reduce comprehension and retention. The chart below illustrates how reader comprehension tends to drop as paragraph length increases:

Figure 1: Illustrative data showing that comprehension drops as paragraphs become longer than about 5-6 sentences. Shorter paragraphs are easier to read, leading to higher retention.

Citations

Always provide citations for facts, statistics, or any claims that originate from external sources. A proper citation not only gives credit but also allows readers to verify the information. In this guideline, we use a bracketed citation format (for example, a reference might appear as :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} in the text) to denote sources. It's important to use the correct format consistently and to include all necessary details like source identifiers or line numbers if applicable.

Accuracy and Trust: Citations should correspond to sources you have actually accessed and confirmed. Do not cite search result summaries or unchecked references—always click through to the original source and ensure it supports your statement. Content backed by reputable sources is far more credible; as a result, readers are much more likely to trust an article that clearly shows where its information comes from. By contrast, if you make claims without evidence, discerning readers may doubt the validity of your content.

To emphasize the impact of citing sources on credibility, consider the following comparison. Imagine a survey of readers' trust in content with vs. without citations. As illustrated in Figure 2, an article that provides solid references is trusted by a significantly larger percentage of readers than one with no citations at all.

Figure 2: Hypothetical survey results illustrating how readers' trust increases dramatically when content includes proper citations. Transparency about sources can boost trust from around 50% to roughly 85% of readers.

Comprehensiveness

Be as detailed and comprehensive as possible in your research write-up. The audience will often wait longer or read more if the content is truly informative and valuable. This means covering all relevant aspects of the topic, answering potential follow-up questions, and providing examples or data to back up your points. Comprehensive content tends to be more engaging and shareable, and it often performs better in search rankings as well.

For instance, one study found that the average first-page Google search result contains about 1,447 words:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}, indicating that longer, in-depth articles are commonly favored. Readers appreciate when an article addresses their queries thoroughly; it saves them from having to search elsewhere. Therefore, investing time in creating a well-researched, lengthy (yet well-structured) piece can greatly enhance its effectiveness and reception.

Stay Updated

Ensure that all information is up-to-date. Facts and figures can become outdated quickly, especially in fast-evolving fields like technology, science, or current events. Always check the publication dates of your sources and look for the most recent data available. Incorporating the latest developments makes your content relevant and valuable.

Research has shown that knowledge can have a "half-life"—over time, much of what we consider factual may be superseded by new information. For example, the half-life of technical knowledge has been shrinking: an engineering degree's knowledge had a half-life of ~35 years in 1930, which dropped to about 10 years by 1960, and in the field of psychology, the average half-life of knowledge is estimated around 7 years:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}. This means that a significant portion of what was considered accurate becomes outdated within a decade or less. Thus, it's crucial to verify whether facts from older sources are still valid or have been updated by newer research as of 2025 (the current year).

By staying updated, you not only provide correct information but also demonstrate to the reader that your content is timely. This can significantly improve the trust and usefulness of your research.

Connected Source Citations

When citing sources, make sure each citation is directly linked to the actual source of information. In practice, this means you should only cite sources that you have opened and verified yourself. For example, if you reference a statistic or quote, ensure that the citation you give points to the exact document or page where that information is found (including specific sections or line numbers if possible). Avoid citing intermediate webpages like search engine results or summaries that are not the original source.

If certain information cannot be found in the sources you have, it's important to be transparent about it. Instead of guessing or fabricating details, simply state that the information wasn't found in the available references. Similarly, if you encounter any errors or conflicting data during your research, mention these issues in your report. This level of honesty and thoroughness shows that you've done due diligence and helps maintain credibility with your audience.

In summary, every claim in your content should be traceable to a reliable source. By connecting each citation to a source you've checked, you reinforce the accuracy of your work and allow readers (or editors) to easily follow up on the evidence.

Conclusion: Following these deep research task guidelines will help you create content that is well-structured, informative, and trustworthy. Using clear formatting makes your document accessible, proper citations and up-to-date information build credibility, and comprehensive coverage ensures that readers get everything they need. In a world saturated with information, high-quality research-driven content stands out and provides real value to its audience.