Start with the decision the research supports
Before opening another tab, say what you need to know and how the answer could change the discussion. “Compare these two vendors” is a large assignment. “Check whether each vendor's published plan supports our required export format” is something the group can inspect.
Separate facts you can look up from judgments the team needs to make. Published API limits may be researchable. Whether a tradeoff is acceptable depends on your goals and constraints. Decide how long to spend investigating before you begin, and assign a follow-up if the question grows beyond the meeting.
Give the investigation a small brief
Use this format when asking a teammate or Q to research a public question. Include any boundary that would otherwise be easy to miss, such as the relevant product version or country. Do not put private material into a public research request unless you intend to provide it.
- Question: [the specific fact or comparison we need].
- Why it matters: [the decision this informs].
- Scope: [products, time period, version, or other boundaries].
- Sources: prefer the relevant original documentation; provide the links.
- Output: a short answer, what is still uncertain, and the source for each material claim.
Inspect the answer before presenting it
Read the cited sources for the claims that affect the choice. Check whether the page actually supports the statement, whether it applies to the version or plan you care about, and whether the information is current enough for the decision. A confident summary can still omit an important condition.
If sources disagree or the answer is incomplete, say so. Present “not found in the published documentation” as an open question, rather than proof that a capability does not exist. Put interpretations beside the evidence so the group can challenge them separately.
Share one useful piece in SideQuest
Run a public research task, review its report, and select the saved result you want others to see. Use “Share this result with room” to publish a copy for invited room members. Q can discuss that shared copy. Your other personal results are not included automatically.
A room has one current shared result. Publishing a copy does not create a public web page, and future edits to your personal result do not silently replace what the room sees. Check that you are sharing the intended version and that its contents are appropriate for everyone with room access.
Return to the question
Give the group a moment to read, then ask: “Does this change our choice?” Record the answer and any remaining uncertainty. If the evidence is insufficient, write down the next check, its owner, and when it is needed. The useful outcome may be a decision, a narrower question, or a reason to wait; the report is there to support that outcome.