research-document
Research Execution Package (REP) Specification
Research Execution Package (REP) Specification
Version: 2.0
Status: Canonical
Purpose
The Research Execution Package (REP) is the canonical artifact produced at the completion of every research effort. It serves as:
- Permanent scientific record
- Executable handoff
- Theory update
- Knowledge transfer artifact
- Synchronization point between autonomous research agents
Canonical Artifact Hierarchy
- Scientific Research Journal
- Research Execution Package (REP)
- Theory Registry
- Evidence Registry
All books, reports, websites, presentations, and training materials are generated from these artifacts.
Stable Identifiers
Artifact Prefix
Research Package RP- Journal Entry JR- Evidence EV- Hypothesis HY- Theory TH- Experiment EX- Decision Framework DF- Concept CN- Glossary GL-
Required Metadata
- Identifier
- Title
- Research Area
- Discipline
- Author Agent
- Version
- Confidence
- Completion
- Priority
- Related Projects
- Related Documents
- Supersedes / Superseded By
- Tags
- Keywords
Research State Snapshot
Every REP begins with:
- Theory Version
- Knowledge Base Version
- Highest Confidence Areas
- Lowest Confidence Areas
- Largest Remaining Unknown
- Active Research Streams
- Recently Invalidated Ideas
- Priority Changes
Mandatory Sections
- Executive Summary
- Original Objective
- Scope
- Repository Context
- Current Understanding
- Key Discoveries
- Evidence Registry
- Hypothesis Registry
- Failed Assumptions
- Open Questions
- Recommended Next Research
- Research Backlog
- Suggested Specialized Research Agents
- Parallel Research Opportunities
- Risks
- Cross-Discipline Opportunities
- Knowledge Relationships
- Repository Updates
- Website Updates
- AI Consumption Notes
- Handoff Instructions
- Research Journal
- Appendix
- Completion Checklist
Theory Impact Assessment
Every REP must document:
- Affected Theory Records
- Affected Engineering Principles
- New Principle Candidates
- Deprecated Principles
- Confidence Changes
- Predictions Created
- Predictions Invalidated
- Required Theory Registry Updates
Evidence Traceability
Every important claim should reference:
- Evidence IDs
- Hypothesis IDs
- Theory IDs
Research Quality Metrics
Track:
- Primary Sources
- Independent Sources
- Counterexamples Reviewed
- Competing Viewpoints Reviewed
- Hypotheses Tested
- Failed Hypotheses
- Research Completeness
- Confidence Gain
- Open Questions Reduced
Research Debt
Record:
- Missing Evidence
- Missing Experiments
- Missing Disciplines
- Weak Areas
- Replication Needed
- Tool Limitations
- Assumptions Awaiting Evidence
Success Criteria
A completely different autonomous research agent should be able to:
- Reconstruct the investigation.
- Understand the current theory.
- Continue the research immediately.
- Produce the next REP without additional context.
If not, the package is incomplete.