Research Ideation

Turn vague research ideas into structured plans with research questions and steps.

Updated Aug 23, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/AnXueHua/auto-research --skill research-ideation-anxuehua
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: Research Ideation
Source: https://github.com/AnXueHua/auto-research/tree/main/skills/research-ideation
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/AnXueHua/auto-research --skill research-ideation-anxuehua

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This skill helps researchers transform vague research interests into a structured ideation and planning workflow, enabling clear questions, methods, and action plans.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Idea Brainstorming (5W1H): Systematically brainstorm research ideas using the 5W1H framework to capture What, Why, Who, When, Where, and How, and map them to actionable objectives.
  • Literature Review & Gap Analysis: Guide literature search strategies, evaluate paper quality, identify trends and gaps, and organize findings into a structured literature review and gap analysis.
  • Research Question Definition & Method Selection: Define SMART research questions, evaluate importance and feasibility, and select suitable methods and resources.
  • Research Planning & Outputs: Create detailed plans with milestones, deliverables, risks, and resource estimates; produce markdown outputs like literature-review.md, research-proposal.md, references.bib, and Zotero collections.

Quick Start

Provide your initial research idea and let the skill generate a SMART research question, method, and a 6-month plan.

Frequently Asked Questions about Research Ideation

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I turn a vague research idea into a structured research question?

To turn a vague research idea into a structured research question, apply the 5W1H framework for brainstorming and define SMART questions, ensuring your objectives are specific, measurable, and actionable before evaluating their feasibility.

What is the best way to conduct a literature review and gap analysis for early-stage research planning?

The best way to conduct a literature review and gap analysis is to guide literature search strategies, evaluate paper quality, identify trends and gaps, and organize findings into a structured markdown output like literature-review.md.

How do I create a research proposal with milestones and resource estimates?

You create a research proposal by defining methods, mapping actionable objectives, and generating a detailed 6-month plan that includes milestones, deliverables, risks, and resource estimates in a research-proposal.md file.

Can I integrate Zotero collections into my research planning workflow?

Yes, you can integrate Zotero collections into your research planning workflow to support literature organization, utilizing references.bib outputs to seamlessly manage citations and structure your findings.

Does this research ideation workflow support both academic and industry contexts?

Yes, this research ideation workflow supports both academic and industry contexts, covering early-stage projects, literature reviews, gap analyses, question formulation, method selection, and formal planning across these environments.