our-claude-skills/custom-skills/31-ourdigital-research/code/references/research-frameworks.md

Research Frameworks

Framework Selection Guide

Topic Type	Framework	Best For
Trend analysis	STEEP + Timeline	Industry shifts, emerging tech
Problem-solution	Problem Tree	Pain points, how-to guides
Comparison	Feature Matrix	Tool reviews, option analysis
Strategy	SWOT + Action	Business recommendations
Technical	Layered Deep-Dive	Implementation guides

STEEP + Timeline Framework

For analyzing trends and industry changes:

S - Social: User behavior changes, demographics
T - Technological: New tools, platforms, capabilities  
E - Economic: Market conditions, pricing trends
E - Environmental: Sustainability, resource factors
P - Political/Legal: Regulations, compliance

Timeline:
- Past (2-3 years): What changed?
- Present: Current state of play
- Future (1-2 years): Projections

Problem Tree Framework

For diagnostic and solution-oriented research:

ROOT PROBLEM
├── Cause 1
│   ├── Sub-cause 1.1
│   └── Sub-cause 1.2
├── Cause 2
│   └── Sub-cause 2.1
└── Cause 3

SOLUTIONS
├── Solution A → addresses Cause 1
├── Solution B → addresses Cause 2
└── Solution C → addresses Cause 3

Feature Matrix Framework

For comparisons and evaluations:

| Criteria | Option A | Option B | Option C | Weight |
|----------|----------|----------|----------|--------|
| Feature 1 | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | High |
| Feature 2 | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | Medium |
| Feature 3 | ⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Low |
| Price | $$$ | $$ | $ | High |

Weighted Score: Calculate based on importance
Recommendation: Based on user's priority

Layered Deep-Dive Framework

For technical and implementation topics:

Layer 1: Concept (What is it?)
- Definition
- Key components
- How it works (simplified)

Layer 2: Context (Why does it matter?)
- Business value
- Use cases
- When to use vs. alternatives

Layer 3: Implementation (How to do it?)
- Prerequisites
- Step-by-step process
- Code/configuration examples

Layer 4: Optimization (How to do it well?)
- Best practices
- Common pitfalls
- Advanced techniques

Layer 5: Measurement (How to know it works?)
- Success metrics
- Monitoring approach
- Iteration guidance

Research Question Templates

Exploratory Questions

• "What is the current state of [topic]?"
• "How has [topic] evolved in the past [timeframe]?"
• "Who are the key players/stakeholders in [topic]?"

Analytical Questions

• "What factors drive [outcome] in [context]?"
• "How does [variable A] affect [variable B]?"
• "What patterns emerge when comparing [X] and [Y]?"

Evaluative Questions

• "What are the strengths and limitations of [approach]?"
• "How effective is [solution] for [problem]?"
• "What criteria should guide [decision]?"

Practical Questions

• "How can [audience] implement [solution]?"
• "What resources are needed for [action]?"
• "What are the risks and mitigations for [approach]?"

Source Priority

1. Primary: Official documentation, research papers, authoritative reports
2. Secondary: Industry publications, expert analysis, case studies
3. Tertiary: News articles, blog posts, community discussions

Always cross-reference claims across multiple source types.

Data Quality Checklist

• Source credibility verified
• Publication date recent (within context)
• Statistics include sample size/methodology
• Claims are falsifiable/verifiable
• Potential biases identified
• Conflicting viewpoints considered