Research Prompt
ResearchClaude has a built-in Research tool that searches the web and compiles up-to-date information for you. To use it, click the + icon in the prompt box and select Research before pasting your prompt.
A good research prompt follows the same 5-step framework — but the key is being specific about your criteria, your context, and the format you want the output delivered in. The more detail you give, the more focused and useful the research will be.
Before & After: Improving a Weak Prompt
Below is the original rough prompt a student might type, followed by the improved version that applies the 5-step framework. Compare them to see what makes the difference.
Original prompt — vague and unstructured
I'm looking for the best car that I can purchase for under 300K in South Africa. I want a Word document that will give me the top 5 cars in this price range. I want you to rate them on: Safest Fuel Economy Price Features
The original prompt isn't bad — the intent is clear — but it lacks a role, audience context, rating scale, and a clean output structure. Claude will produce something, but the result will be inconsistent and harder to act on.
The Improved Research Prompt
This version applies all 5 steps: Role, Context, Task, Examples, and Format. Copy it, open Claude, click the + icon, select Research, then paste.
Improved prompt — structured and specific
You are an experienced automotive journalist and consumer advisor based in South Africa, with deep knowledge of the local new and used car market. I am a South African buyer with a budget of R300,000. I want to purchase a reliable everyday car — suitable for city driving and occasional long-distance trips. I am not looking for luxury or performance vehicles; value for money, safety, and running costs are my top priorities. Using your research tool, find and evaluate the top 5 cars available in South Africa for under R300,000. For each car, rate it out of 10 on the following four criteria: 1. Safety — NCAP rating or equivalent safety features 2. Fuel Economy — litres per 100km (combined cycle) 3. Price — value for money relative to the R300,000 budget 4. Features — standard tech, comfort, and convenience features included at this price Example of the rating style I want: Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 XS — Safety: 9/10 | Fuel Economy: 8/10 | Price: 7/10 | Features: 8/10 Format the output as a structured Word-ready document with: - A short introduction paragraph - A numbered list of the top 5 cars, each with: full model name, approximate price (ZAR), a 3–4 sentence summary, and the four ratings - A comparison summary table at the end showing all 5 cars and their scores side by side - A final recommendation of the single best overall choice with a brief reason why
What Changed — and Why It Works
| Step | Original | Improved |
|---|---|---|
| Role | None | Automotive journalist based in South Africa — sets local expertise |
| Context | Budget only | Buyer profile, use case (city + long distance), priorities stated |
| Task | Vague list request | Specific: top 5, rate on 4 named criteria, score out of 10 |
| Examples | None | Sample rating line shows exactly the format expected |
| Format | "A word document" (no structure) | Introduction + numbered list + comparison table + recommendation |
How to Use This Prompt
- Open claude.ai and start a new conversation.
- Click the + icon in the prompt input box.
- Select Research from the menu — this activates Claude's web search tool.
- Click Copy above and paste the improved prompt.
- Press Enter and wait — Research prompts take a little longer as Claude searches the web.
- Once done, copy Claude's output and paste it into a Word document for a clean final result.