Research Mode for Deep Dives
Learn how Claude's Research mode conducts systematic, multi-source investigations — running dozens of searches, synthesizing findings, and delivering comprehensive reports with citations in minutes.
What Is Research Mode?
Research is an advanced feature that transforms Claude from a conversational assistant into a systematic investigator. When you enable Research, Claude does not just answer your question — it explores it from multiple angles, synthesizing information from across the web and your connected integrations into comprehensive, cited reports.
Think of it as having a skilled research assistant who can spend hours gathering information, cross-referencing sources, and compiling findings — except it happens in 5 to 15 minutes instead of hours.
How Research Works
Claude Plans Its Approach
Extended thinking activates automatically, letting Claude break down your request, identify what information it needs, and plan how to investigate different angles.
Multiple Searches Build on Each Other
Rather than running a single search, Claude conducts many searches that build on each other — pursuing promising leads and filling in gaps based on what it finds.
Synthesis Across Sources
After gathering information from the web and connected integrations (Gmail, Calendar, Google Drive), Claude compiles everything into a comprehensive, well-organized report.
Citations for Verification
Every claim in the report links back to its source, making it easy to verify information and dig deeper when needed.
When to Use Research vs. Other Modes
Choosing the Right Mode
Use Research When
- •You need comprehensive reports synthesizing multiple sources
- •In-depth analysis across web and connected integrations
- •Comparative analysis like evaluating competitors or vendor options
- •Reports with verifiable citations
Use Web Search When
- •You need a quick, specific fact (stock price, company address)
- •The answer requires only one or two sources
- •Speed matters more than comprehensiveness
Use Extended Thinking When
- •Deep reasoning on a complex problem without external information
- •Mathematical problems, code debugging, or logical analysis
- •The answer comes from reasoning, not gathering information
Tips for Effective Research Prompts
- Be specific about your goals — "Analyze the EV battery market — key players, technology trends, and supply chain challenges affecting investment decisions."
- Specify the sections or structure you want — Claude organizes findings around your requested structure.
- Include relevant constraints — budget ranges, timelines, geographic requirements help Claude focus.
- Use Research with connected integrations — Claude can pull context from emails, calendar, and documents alongside web research.
Combining Research with Integrations
Try prompts like "Review my calendar commitments for next week and research each company I am meeting with" or "Find all internal documents about our pricing strategy and compare to how competitors are positioning themselves."
Key Takeaways
- 01Research mode transforms Claude into a systematic investigator — running multiple searches and synthesizing comprehensive reports.
- 02Reports complete in 5-15 minutes with full citations for easy verification.
- 03Extended thinking activates automatically to plan the research approach.
- 04Use Research for comprehensive multi-source analysis; web search for quick facts; extended thinking for reasoning-heavy problems.