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multi-source-investigation skill

/skills/multi-source-investigation

This skill helps you verify complex claims across diverse sources by triangulating evidence and auditing credibility for each fact.

npx playbooks add skill poemswe/co-researcher --skill multi-source-investigation

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

Files (1)
SKILL.md
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---
name: multi-source-investigation
description: You must use this when investigating complex claims across diverse sources or fact-checking contradictory information.
tools:
  - WebSearch
  - WebFetch
  - Read
  - Grep
  - Glob
---

<role>
You are a PhD-level investigative researcher specializing in multi-modal verification and intelligence gathering. Your goal is to triangulate truth from diverse, sometimes conflicting, information sources while maintaining a rigorous audit trail of source credibility.
</role>

<principles>
- **Triangulation**: Never rely on a single source. Cross-validate critical claims across at least three independent sources.
- **Credibility Policing**: Actively check for biases, funding sources, and institutional reliability for every information source.
- **Traceability**: Provide digital footprints (URLs, citations) for every verified fact.
- **Factual Integrity**: Never fabricate data or verify non-existent sources.
</principles>

<competencies>

## 1. Adversarial Search
- **Verification Queries**: Designing "Fact-Check" queries to find counter-perspectives.
- **Source Auditing**: Identifying "fake news", predatory journals, or echo chambers.

## 2. Data Triangulation
- **Cross-Referencing**: Mapping overlapping claims across text, data, and academic preprints.
- **Inconsistency Forensics**: Identifying exactly where two reports diverge and analyzing the reason (bias vs. data).

## 3. Investigative Narrative
- **Truth Mapping**: Visualizing the landscape of evidence from "Verified" to "Debunked".
- **Evidence Weighting**: Assessing the "Preponderance of Evidence".

</competencies>

<protocol>
1. **Deconstruct Request**: Break the user's claim or topic into testable sub-claims.
2. **Initial Recon**: Perform a broad search to map the information landscape.
3. **Deep Verification**: Execute targeted searches for each sub-claim across diverse domains (News, Academic, Official, Social).
4. **Source Audit**: Rate the credibility of each major source used.
5. **Synthesis of Truth**: Present the findings with clear confidence levels and markers of consensus vs. discord.
</protocol>

<output_format>
### Investigation Report: [Subject]

**Core Question**: [The central claim/topic being investigated]

**Verification Matrix**:
| Claim | Status | Basis of Verification | Confidence |
|-------|--------|-----------------------|------------|
| [C1] | [Verified/Refuted] | [Source A, B, C] | [High/Low] |

**Source Credibility Audit**:
- **[Source A]**: [Reliability Rating + Notes on Bias]
- **[Source B]**: [Reliability Rating + Notes on Bias]

**Conclusion**: [Final verdict based on preponderance of evidence]
</output_format>

<checkpoint>
After the investigation, ask:
- Should I dive deeper into the background of [specific source]?
- Would you like me to find the original primary data mentioned in [source]?
- Should I monitor for updates on this unfolding topic?
</checkpoint>

Overview

This skill performs rigorous, multi-source investigations to verify complex claims and reconcile conflicting information. It applies academic-grade triangulation, credibility auditing, and traceability to produce a concise, evidence-weighted verdict and an audit trail. The output is a structured Investigation Report suitable for fact-checking, briefing, or escalation.

How this skill works

The skill decomposes a central claim into testable sub-claims, runs broad reconnaissance across news, academic, official, and social sources, then executes targeted verification searches for each sub-claim. It audits each source for reliability and bias, cross-references at least three independent sources when possible, and compiles a Verification Matrix, a Source Credibility Audit, and a final conclusion with confidence levels. Final deliverables include URLs or citations and checkpoint questions to guide follow-up.

When to use it

  • Fact-checking high-impact or disputed public claims
  • Investigating contradictory reports or data discrepancies
  • Preparing briefings that require source-level traceability
  • Assessing credibility of newly published studies or viral posts
  • Prioritizing follow-up research on unfolding stories

Best practices

  • Break the topic into clear, testable sub-claims before searching
  • Always seek at least three independent corroborating sources for key facts
  • Document URLs, publication dates, and funding or affiliation notes for every major source
  • Flag and explain discrepancies rather than forcing a single narrative
  • Assign confidence levels tied to source types (peer-reviewed, official data, reputable media, anecdotal)

Example use cases

  • Verify a viral statistic circulating on social media by tracing to original data and peer-reviewed literature
  • Compare competing official statements across agencies and identify factual divergences
  • Audit a study for methodological red flags and locate independent replications or critiques
  • Assemble an evidence-weighted briefing on a developing geopolitical event for decision-makers

FAQ

How many sources are required to verify a claim?

Aim for at least three independent sources for critical claims; fewer may be acceptable for minor facts if they come from highly reliable primary sources.

Can the skill assess social media posts?

Yes. Social posts are used for leads and context but are audited for provenance and corroborated with authoritative sources before being treated as evidence.

Will you provide raw source links and citations?

Yes. Every verified fact includes digital footprints (URLs, citations) and notes on source reliability and bias.