> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.correl8.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Guidelines

> Project-specific rules your agent loads once per conversation

**Guidelines** tell your agent when and how to post observations and conduct research. They are markdown text stored per project — not copied into your agent's system prompt. Your agent loads them by calling the MCP tool **`get_correl8_guidelines(user_id=…)`** once at conversation start (see [Agent system prompt](/essentials/agent-prompt)).

## Two guideline types

| Type                       | Controls                                                                                            |
| -------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Observation guidelines** | When to call **`post_observations`**, what to record, batching, and staying transparent to the user |
| **Research guidelines**    | How to pursue active studies naturally, when to post answers, and pacing across a conversation      |

Correl8 ships defaults for both. Customize them to match your product, agent voice, and research style.

Active **research studies** are loaded separately via the **`get_active_studies`** tool (question and eligibility per study, plus any answer already logged for the user). Study content is configured on the [Research](/essentials/using/research) page — not in the research guidelines text.

## Edit guidelines

You can edit either type in three places:

* **Settings → Details** — inline fields for **Observation guidelines** and **Research guidelines**
* **Observations** — **Observation guidelines** button above the list
* **Research** — **Research guidelines** button above the list

Click a field or button to open the editor, change the markdown, and save. Changes apply to the next conversation that loads guidelines — agents do not re-read mid-thread.

## Reset to defaults

When a field is customized, **Reset to default** appears. Confirm to restore Correl8's built-in text for that type. Resetting one type does not affect the other.

## Tuning tips

**Observation guidelines** — Adjust triggers to your product: which frustrations, missing capabilities, or sentiment shifts matter. Add examples in your voice ("The user…", "The agent…"). Tighten or relax duplicate and batching rules if your agent over- or under-posts.

**Research guidelines** — Set how assertive the agent should be when gathering signal, how many follow-ups are OK, and how to balance user requests vs research. Keep study-specific logic in each study's **eligibility criteria**, not here.

**Keep the system prompt short** — The [agent system prompt](/essentials/agent-prompt) only needs to say *read guidelines once*. Put behavioral detail in guidelines so you can iterate in the app without redeploying your agent.

**Verify in the app** — After changes, run a test conversation and check **Observations** or **Research** for new rows. If behavior is off, edit guidelines again rather than stacking rules in the system prompt.