Santa Method
affaan-m/ECC
Multi-agent adversarial verification: two independent reviewers with the same rubric must both pass before output ships, with a fix-and-re-review convergence loop and human escalation cap.
A skill your agent uses when deciding whether a project clears the Sociological Methods & Research (SMR) bar — a genuine methodological contribution (develop, evaluate, or critically assess a…
MITAuto-check passed
Install Smr Topic Selection
$ npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills --skill smr-topic-selection -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills smr-topic-selection --agent claude-codeProject scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection .claude/skills/smr-topic-selection && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.
Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/
Install the "smr-topic-selection" agent skill from https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills/tree/main/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection into .claude/skills/smr-topic-selection/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "smr-topic-selection", then confirm the skill loads.Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$skill-installer install https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills/tree/main/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selectionType this inside Codex. $skill-installer <name> installs a curated skill from openai/skills. The installer writes to $CODEX_HOME/skills (default ~/.codex/skills). Restart Codex if the skill does not show up.
$ npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills --skill smr-topic-selection -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills smr-topic-selection --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection .agents/skills/smr-topic-selection && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "smr-topic-selection" agent skill from https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills/tree/main/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection into .agents/skills/smr-topic-selection/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "smr-topic-selection", then confirm the skill loads.Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills --skill smr-topic-selection -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills smr-topic-selection --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection .cursor/skills/smr-topic-selection && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.
Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/
Install the "smr-topic-selection" agent skill from https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills/tree/main/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection into .cursor/skills/smr-topic-selection/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "smr-topic-selection", then confirm the skill loads.Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gemini skills install https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills.git --path Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.
$ npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills --skill smr-topic-selection -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills smr-topic-selection --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection .gemini/skills/smr-topic-selection && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.gemini/skills/ instead of .gemini/skills for a personal install, then run /skills reload.
Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "smr-topic-selection" agent skill from https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills/tree/main/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection into .gemini/skills/smr-topic-selection/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "smr-topic-selection", then confirm the skill loads.Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gh skill install brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills smr-topic-selectionInstalls for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills --skill smr-topic-selection -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection .github/skills/smr-topic-selection && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.copilot/skills/ instead of .github/skills for a personal install. Commit .github/skills so cloud agent and code review can use it.
GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "smr-topic-selection" agent skill from https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills/tree/main/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection into .github/skills/smr-topic-selection/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "smr-topic-selection", then confirm the skill loads.GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills --skill smr-topic-selection -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills smr-topic-selection --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection .opencode/skills/smr-topic-selection && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.
OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "smr-topic-selection" agent skill from https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills/tree/main/Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection into .opencode/skills/smr-topic-selection/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "smr-topic-selection", then confirm the skill loads.OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
Facts
- Skill name
smr-topic-selection- GitHub stars
- 1.2k
- Token cost
- ~1.2k tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 561 words
- Files
- 1
- Skills in repo
- 2,387
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- MIT
At a glance
A skill your agent uses when deciding whether a project clears the Sociological Methods & Research (SMR) bar — a genuine methodological contribution (develop, evaluate, or critically assess a…
- Deciding whether a project clears the Sociological Methods & Research (SMR) bar — a genuine methodological contribution (develop
- SKILL.md covers The three SMR contribution modes, The application test (the…, Scope map for SMR and Sibling-journal routing (do…, plus 3 more sections
- Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md
- Critically assess a method)
What it does
Smr Topic Selection is an agent skill from brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills. Use when deciding whether a project clears the Sociological Methods & Research (SMR) bar — a genuine methodological contribution (develop, evaluate, or critically assess a method), not an application dressed as method. Screens fit and scope; does not derive properties or design simulations.
Its SKILL.md is about 1.2k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.
The repository describes itself as: Journal-specific Claude Code/Codex skill packs covering mainstream journals — AER, QJE, Nature, Cell, 管理世界, 经济研究 & 200+ more — your fast track to getting published. ｜ 覆盖主流期刊的… The licence is MIT.
When your agent uses it
- Deciding whether a project clears the Sociological Methods & Research (SMR) bar — a genuine methodological contribution (develop
- Critically assess a method)
- Not an application dressed as method
Example prompts
- “/smr-topic-selection”
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 932eb23. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.
Tool permissions
Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.
From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.
Runs code
No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md.
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
No URLs in SKILL.md.
From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.
Credentials
Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.
From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.
Context cost
Smr Topic Selection loads about 1.2k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 78 tokens; SKILL.md has 561 words of instructions outside code blocks.
Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.
Safety
Auto-check passed
The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.
Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.
SKILL.md
The full file from brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills at commit 932eb23, republished under its MIT licence (© brycewang-stanford). 561 words, ~1,167 tokens.
Download SKILL.mdSave it as
.claude/skills/smr-topic-selection/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).- name
- smr-topic-selection
- description
- Use when deciding whether a project clears the Sociological Methods & Research (SMR) bar — a genuine methodological contribution (develop, evaluate, or critically assess a method), not an application dressed as method. Screens fit and scope; does not derive properties or design simulations.
SMR Topic Selection
Use this first. SMR's single hardest gate is the difference between a paper about a method and a paper that uses a method. Most desk rejections at this venue are scope failures: a competent applied analysis with no methodological payoff for other researchers.
The three SMR contribution modes
A submission must clearly be one (or more) of these — name yours before drafting:
- Develop: a new estimator, design, diagnostic, identification result, or computational tool that did not exist or could not be used before. The deliverable is a method other people can adopt.
- Evaluate: a systematic Monte Carlo or analytical comparison that tells the field when an existing method works, fails, or should be replaced — the "often trusted but never properly tested" paper. The deliverable is evidence that changes practice.
- Critically assess: a rigorous critique that exposes a hidden assumption, a common misuse, or a misconception, and gives a corrected procedure. The deliverable is a fix, not just a complaint.
If you cannot place the paper in one mode in a single sentence, it is not yet an SMR paper.
The application test (the desk-reject filter)
Ask: could this finding appear in a substantive sociology journal (ASR/AJS) instead? If the contribution is the substantive result and the method is the vehicle, send it there. SMR wants the method to be the result and the substantive case to be the illustration. Diagnostic questions:
- Strip the dataset. Is there anything left for a methods reader to take away? If no → application.
- Would a researcher in a different substantive field benefit? SMR methods should travel.
- Is the comparison set other methods, or other findings? Methods papers compare methods.
Scope map for SMR
| Project shape | SMR verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New estimator/diagnostic with derivation + simulation + illustration | In scope | Canonical "develop" paper |
| Monte Carlo evaluation of a widely-used method's failure modes | In scope | Canonical "evaluate" paper |
| Critique exposing a misused assumption + corrected procedure | In scope | Canonical "assess" paper |
| Strong substantive finding using a standard method | Out of scope | Belongs in ASR/AJS |
| New method with no real-data illustration | Repair first | SMR expects substantive relevance |
| Software/package note with no methodological novelty | Out of scope (or a software journal) | No method contribution |
Show full SKILL.md (197 more words)Show less
Sibling-journal routing (do not waste a submission)
- Sociological Methodology (ASA annual): longer, often more exploratory or programmatic methods pieces — a different cadence and editorial model. Confirm fit before assuming overlap.
- Psychological Methods (APA): psychology-facing measurement/statistics audience.
- Political Analysis: political-science methods. SMR is the SAGE quantitative-sociology-methods venue; if your audience is sociologists and social scientists broadly, SMR fits.
Checklist
- The contribution mode (develop / evaluate / assess) is named in one sentence.
- The "what problem does it solve vs. existing methods" sentence is written.
- The application test is passed: stripping the dataset leaves a method takeaway.
- The method travels beyond one substantive field.
- A real-data illustration is planned, not just a simulation.
- The right sibling journal has been ruled out deliberately.
Anti-patterns
- Application in methods clothing: the real contribution is the substantive finding; reviewers redirect it to a substantive journal.
- Method with no users: an estimator so narrow no one outside the example would run it.
- Simulation-only novelty: a new method shown only in Monte Carlo, with no demonstration that it changes a real substantive conclusion.
- "Yet another fit index" without a failure case: a variant whose advantage over the incumbent is never demonstrated where the incumbent breaks.
Output format
[SMR fit] in scope / repair first / out of scope
[Contribution mode] develop / evaluate / critically assess
[Problem solved vs. existing methods] <one sentence>
[Application-test result] pass / fail (where it leaks to a substantive finding)
[Next SMR skill] smr-method-contribution© brycewang-stanford, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file
Files
Just SKILL.md in Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection of brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills.
Open the folder on GitHubat commit 932eb23
Compare with similar skills
Smr Topic Selection next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.
| Skill | Stars | Used in | Tokens | Auto-check | Licence | Repo updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smr Topic Selection this skillbrycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills | 1.2k | — | ~1.2k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Santa Methodaffaan-m/ECC | 276k | 3 repos | ~3.1k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Santa Methodaffaan-m/ECC | 276k | — | ~2.1k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Santa Methodaffaan-m/ECC | 276k | — | ~1.9k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Sociology Research Methodswentorai/research-plugins | 298 | 1 repos | ~1.9k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Modern Array Methodsthedaviddias/Front-End-Checklist | 74k | — | ~494 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT |
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Santa Method
affaan-m/ECC
収束ループを持つマルチエージェント敵対的検証。2つの独立したレビューエージェントが両方合格して初めて出力を出荷できます。
Santa Method
affaan-m/ECC
具有收敛循环的多智能体对抗验证。两个独立的审查代理必须都通过，输出才能发送。
Sociology Research Methods
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Modern Array Methods
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Questions about Smr Topic Selection
What does Smr Topic Selection do?
A skill your agent uses when deciding whether a project clears the Sociological Methods & Research (SMR) bar — a genuine methodological contribution (develop, evaluate, or critically assess a…. Smr Topic Selection is an agent skill from brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills. Use when deciding whether a project clears the Sociological Methods & Research (SMR) bar — a genuine methodological contribution (develop, evaluate, or critically assess a method), not an application dressed as method.
When should I use Smr Topic Selection?
Smr Topic Selection fits situations like: deciding whether a project clears the Sociological Methods & Research (SMR) bar — a genuine methodological contribution (develop; critically assess a method); not an application dressed as method.
How do I install Smr Topic Selection in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills --skill smr-topic-selection -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection in brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills) into .claude/skills/smr-topic-selection in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install Smr Topic Selection in Codex?
Run `npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills --skill smr-topic-selection -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (Sociological-Methods-and-Research-Skills/skills/smr-topic-selection in brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills) into .agents/skills/smr-topic-selection in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use Smr Topic Selection in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?
Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills --skill smr-topic-selection -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/smr-topic-selection, .gemini/skills/smr-topic-selection, .github/skills/smr-topic-selection and .opencode/skills/smr-topic-selection in your project.
What does Smr Topic Selection need to run?
SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Smr Topic Selection is instructions for the agent only.
Does Smr Topic Selection access the network?
SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.
Is Smr Topic Selection safe to install?
Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.
What licence does Smr Topic Selection use?
Smr Topic Selection is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.
How many tokens does Smr Topic Selection use?
About 1.2k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 4.7k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.
What are the alternatives to Smr Topic Selection?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with Smr Topic Selection: Santa Method (affaan-m/ECC, 276k stars), Santa Method (affaan-m/ECC, 276k stars), Santa Method (affaan-m/ECC, 276k stars) and Sociology Research Methods (wentorai/research-plugins, 298 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains Smr Topic Selection?
brycewang-stanford (a GitHub user) maintains it in brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills, which has 1,228 GitHub stars. The repository holds 2,387 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on September 27, 2026.
Source: brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.