https://github.com/assafkip/research-mode
Anti-hallucination research mode for Claude Code. Toggle on/off to enforce citation requirements and source grounding.
https://github.com/assafkip/research-mode
ai-safety anti-hallucination citations claude-code claude-code-plugin llm research
Last synced: 2 days ago
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Anti-hallucination research mode for Claude Code. Toggle on/off to enforce citation requirements and source grounding.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/assafkip/research-mode
- Owner: assafkip
- Created: 2026-03-23T04:01:28.000Z (3 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-04-03T22:43:27.000Z (3 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-04-04T00:28:21.123Z (3 months ago)
- Topics: ai-safety, anti-hallucination, citations, claude-code, claude-code-plugin, llm, research
- Size: 8.79 KB
- Stars: 107
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 12
- Open Issues: 4
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Research Mode for Claude Code
Anti-hallucination toggle for Claude Code. Activates citation constraints from [Anthropic's documentation](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/test-and-evaluate/strengthen-guardrails/reduce-hallucinations) that force Claude to cite sources, say "I don't know" when unsure, and ground responses in direct quotes.
> **Using [Kipi Founder OS](https://github.com/assafkip/kipi-system)?** Research mode is already built into kipi-core. Just run `/q-research `. No extra install needed.
## Install
Works in Claude Code CLI, the macOS desktop app, and the VS Code extension. Open Claude Code and run these two commands:
**Step 1 -- Add the marketplace:**
```
/plugin marketplace add assafkip/research-mode
```
**Step 2 -- Install the plugin:**
```
/plugin install research-mode@assafkip-research-mode
```
That's it. To confirm it installed, run `/plugin` and check that `research-mode` appears in your list.
**Alternative -- install as a standalone skill:**
If you prefer not to use the plugin system, clone this repo and copy the `SKILL.md` file into your project's `.claude/skills/research-mode/` directory.
## Use
```
/research-mode:research
```
Or with a topic:
```
/research-mode:research what caused the Change Healthcare breach
```
Say "exit research mode" to turn it off.
## What it does
Three constraints activate simultaneously:
1. **Say "I don't know"** -- no guessing, no inferring. If there's no credible source, Claude says so.
2. **Cite everything** -- every claim must reference a file, URL, paper, or named source. Unsourced claims get retracted.
3. **Quote first, then analyze** -- responses are grounded in word-for-word quotes from source material, not paraphrased summaries.
## Source cascade (keeps token costs low)
Sources are checked in order. Claude stops at the first level that answers the question:
1. **Local files** (Grep + Read) -- zero cost, most reliable
2. **WebSearch snippets** -- cite the snippet directly, skip downloading full pages
3. **WebFetch** -- only when the snippet is ambiguous or user needs full quotes
4. **Scholar Gateway** -- for academic papers, if available
Token budget: 5 WebSearch, 3 WebFetch max per question. If the limit is hit, Claude summarizes what it found and asks before going deeper.
## What it doesn't do
- Not always-on. It's a toggle. Turn it on for research, off for creative work.
- Not slow. Claude still uses tools in parallel and works efficiently.
- Not restrictive on new ideas. You can synthesize across sources, but inputs must be grounded.
## Why
LLMs hallucinate. When you're doing research that matters, you need guardrails that force citation discipline. This plugin packages Anthropic's own recommendations into a one-command toggle.
## Troubleshooting
**"Plugin not found" after Step 1:** Make sure you typed the marketplace command exactly as shown. The marketplace name is `assafkip/research-mode` (GitHub username/repo).
**Command doesn't appear after install:** Run `/reload-plugins` to refresh, or restart Claude Code.
**Want to scope it to one project only:** Add `--scope project` to the install command in Step 2.
## Built by
[Assaf Kipnis](https://github.com/assafkip) -- built while running GTM, investor outreach, and content ops for [KTLYST](https://ktlystlabs.com) entirely through Claude Code. When your AI assistant is writing your pitch decks, researching competitors, and drafting investor briefs, hallucinated facts aren't a minor annoyance. They're a credibility risk. This toggle exists because I needed it.
Questions or feedback: [REDACTED]