Viewing Research Results

Learn how to view, interpret, and utilize research results in Raycaster AI Workspace

Understanding Research Results

Once Raycaster completes a research task, the results are presented in multiple ways to help you analyze and utilize the information effectively. This guide explains how to view, interpret, and work with research results.

Where Research Results Appear

Research results can be viewed in several locations:

1. Cell View

The most basic view is directly in the cell itself:

Research results in a cell (placeholder)

• TEXT columns: Display the formatted text content
• NUMBER columns: Show the resulting numeric value
• SELECT columns: Display the selected option(s)
• BOOLEAN columns: Show yes/no indicators

2. Research Panel

For a detailed view, click on any researched cell to open the research panel:

Research panel interface (placeholder)

The research panel contains several tabs:

Results Tab

The primary tab showing the complete research results:

• Full formatted content
• Rich text formatting
• Visual elements (when applicable)
• Expanded details beyond what fits in the cell

Sources Tab

A list of all sources used for the research:

• Source URLs
• Publication details
• Access dates
• Source relevance indicators

Sources tab in research panel (placeholder)

Reasoning Tab

Provides insight into the AI’s thought process:

• Research methodology
• Analysis approach
• Key factors considered
• Reasoning behind conclusions

The reasoning tab is especially helpful for understanding how the AI drew its conclusions and for verifying the research approach.

Raw Data Tab (Advanced)

For technical users, the raw data tab shows:

• JSON representation of results
• Complete metadata
• Confidence scores
• Unformatted content

Interpreting Research Results

Understanding Cell Content

The content displayed in cells is formatted according to the column type:

Column Type	What You’ll See	Example
TEXT	Formatted text content, potentially truncated to fit	”Acme Biotech is a clinical-stage company focused on…”
NUMBER	Single numeric value with optional formatting	”42” or “$5.3M”
BOOLEAN	Yes/No indicator, checkmark, or similar	”✓” or ”✗“
SINGLE_SELECT	Selected option label	”Phase 2”
MULTI_SELECT	Labels of selected options, potentially truncated	”Oncology, Neurology, Immunology”

Understanding Research Quality Indicators

Raycaster provides visual indicators of research quality:

• Source Count: Number of distinct sources used
• Confidence Level: AI’s assessment of information reliability
• Completeness: How thoroughly the research request was fulfilled
• Freshness: How recent the sources are

Source Verification

The Sources tab helps you verify the reliability of research:

1. Check Source Diversity

   Look for multiple sources rather than a single source

2. Evaluate Source Types

   Note whether sources include official websites, news articles, academic papers, etc.

3. Check Recency

   Verify that sources are recent enough for your needs

4. Visit Source Links

   Click on source links to view original content when needed

Source verification interface (placeholder)

Working with Research Results

Research Status Indicators

Cells show different status indicators depending on their research state:

• Not Researched: Empty or placeholder content
• Research In Progress: Loading indicator or progress animation
• Research Complete: Content visible
• Research Error: Error icon with information
• Research Outdated: Warning indicator suggesting refresh

Refreshing Research

To update research with the latest information:

1. Access Cell

   Click on the cell containing the research you want to refresh

2. Initiate Refresh

   Click the refresh icon in the cell or in the research panel

   Research refresh button location (placeholder)

3. Wait for Completion

   The system will perform a new research operation, replacing previous results

4. Review Updates

   Compare new results with previous findings to identify changes

Refreshing research is especially important for time-sensitive data like funding information, recent news, or executive changes.

Batch Research Status

For batch research operations involving multiple cells:

1. Look for the batch research status indicator in the toolbar
2. Click the indicator to see detailed progress
3. View completion stats and any errors
4. Access the batch research log for troubleshooting

Batch research status interface (placeholder)

Using Research Data

Copying Content

To copy research content for use elsewhere:

1. Copy Cell Content

   • Right-click on a cell and select “Copy” for basic content
   • Use keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+C (Windows/Linux) or ⌘+C (Mac)
   • This copies the visible cell content only
2. Copy Detailed Content

   • Open the research panel by clicking on the cell
   • Use the copy button in the panel to copy full content
   • You can also select specific sections to copy
3. Copy with Sources

   • In the research panel, click “Copy with Sources”
   • This includes both the research content and the source citations
   • Useful for maintaining attribution and verifiability

Exporting Research Results

To export research results for multiple rows or columns:

1. Click “Export” in the toolbar
2. Select the columns containing research you want to export
3. Toggle “Include Research Data” to ON
4. Choose your preferred level of detail:
   • Summary Only: Just the cell content
   • Complete Research: Full detailed results
   • Include Sources: Add source information
   • Include Raw Data: Include technical details (advanced)
5. Click “Export” to generate and download the file

Learn more about exporting data

Modifying Research Results

You can manually edit research results if needed:

1. Enter Edit Mode

   Double-click on a researched cell to enter edit mode

   Editing research results will override AI-generated content. Consider saving the original research first.

2. Make Modifications

   Edit the content as needed

   • For TEXT cells: Modify the text content
   • For NUMBER cells: Change the numeric value
   • For SELECT cells: Change the selection(s)
3. Save Changes

   Press Enter or click away from the cell to save your changes

When you manually edit research results, the system adds an “Edited” indicator to show that the content has been modified from the original AI research.

Troubleshooting Research Issues

Common Research Errors

Error Message	Likely Cause	Solution
No information found	The research query returned no results	Try broadening your prompt or enabling web search
Research timeout	Operation took too long to complete	Try a more focused prompt or break into smaller requests
Source access error	Could not access required sources	Check if web search is enabled or try later
Invalid input variable	A referenced variable has no value	Fill in the referenced column or modify your prompt
Too many requests	Research rate limit reached	Wait a few minutes and try again

Improving Poor Results

If research results are not meeting your expectations:

1. Check Prompt Clarity

   Review your research prompt for clarity and specificity

   • Be more explicit about what information you need
   • Break complex queries into simpler ones
   • Provide more context or variables
2. Enable Web Search

   If web search is disabled, enable it for more comprehensive results

3. Verify Input Variables

   Ensure all variables used in your prompt have valid values

4. Try a Different Research Tool

   Consider if a specialized tool might be better for your specific needs

5. Check Source Requirements

   Adjust minimum source requirements if needed

Remember that AI research is most effective when guided by well-crafted prompts. If you continue to experience issues, contact [e-mail] for assistance.