Document Type: Protocol
Status: Active Protocol
Version: v1.0
Authority: Research Brain (Subordinate to MWMS HeadOffice)
Applies To: All opportunity research outputs transferred from Research Brain to Affiliate Brain
Parent: Research Brain Architecture
Linked Systems:
Research Brain Canon
Research Brain — Offer / Opportunity Research Task Specification
Research Brain — Research Verdict Framework
Research Brain — Research Confidence Scoring Model
Research Brain — Offer Evidence Standards
Research Brain — Platform Risk Classification Model
Affiliate Brain Canon
Affiliate Brain — Opportunity Queue
MWMS Decision Authority Matrix
Last Reviewed: 2026-03-26
Purpose
This protocol defines the structure, boundaries, and expectations for information passed from Research Brain to Affiliate Brain.
Research Brain produces structured interpretation of opportunity characteristics.
Affiliate Brain decides whether opportunities deserve testing attention.
This protocol ensures Affiliate Brain receives consistent, evidence-aware inputs that support structured prioritisation.
Research Brain informs.
Affiliate Brain evaluates test worthiness.
Scope
This protocol applies to all opportunities where Research Brain has completed structured research relating to:
affiliate offers
products
lead generation opportunities
funnels
digital solutions
physical products
service-based solutions
This protocol governs:
what information is transferred
how research conclusions are structured
what Research Brain does not attempt to decide
This protocol does not govern:
test execution
budget allocation
traffic strategy
creative direction
campaign scaling
Those remain Affiliate Brain authority.
Core Principle
Research Brain provides structured interpretation.
Affiliate Brain performs behavioural validation through testing.
Research Brain does not simulate testing outcomes.
Research Brain does not simulate campaign performance.
Research Brain does not simulate EPC, CPA, CTR, CVR, or ROI.
Research Brain provides structural clarity.
Affiliate Brain observes real-world response.
Handoff Timing
Handoff occurs when Research Brain has completed:
Product / Offer Overview
Offer Model interpretation
Funnel classification
Market structure interpretation
Competitor structural observation
Platform risk signal classification
Research Verdict expression
Confidence classification
Partial research may still be handed off if uncertainty is explicitly visible.
Incomplete research must not be disguised as complete research.
Required Handoff Fields
Research Brain must provide the following structured outputs.
1. Offer Identity
Basic identification fields.
Examples:
Offer name
Product name
Vendor name (if visible)
Offer URL
Funnel entry URL
Identity fields ensure traceability.
2. Product / Offer Overview
Structured description of observable solution.
Examples:
problem orientation
solution category
offer format
observable promise structure
Overview must remain descriptive.
3. Offer Model
Observable commercial structure.
Examples:
one-time purchase
subscription structure
lead generation model
trial structure
multi-offer pathway
Offer model interpretation must rely on visible structure.
4. Funnel Classification
Classification based on:
Research Brain — Funnel Classification Model
Examples:
Advertorial → Long-form Sales Page
Quiz Funnel → Sales Page
Direct Sales Page
Lead Capture Funnel
Funnel classification supports testing context understanding.
5. Market Interpretation
Structural description of observable market environment using:
Research Brain — Market Analysis Method
Examples:
solution density observations
angle diversity observations
problem presence observations
Market interpretation must remain descriptive.
6. Competitor Structural Observations
Structured interpretation using:
Research Brain — Competitor Analysis Framework
Examples:
common positioning patterns
common funnel structures
observable differentiation signals
Competitor interpretation must remain evidence-aware.
7. Platform Risk Signals
Classification using:
Research Brain — Platform Risk Classification Model
Examples:
Claim Risk
Trust Risk
Transparency Risk
Risk classification informs caution awareness.
Risk classification does not block opportunity routing.
8. Structural Strength Observations
Evidence-linked structural positives.
Examples:
clear problem framing
consistent positioning structure
strong structural clarity
visible differentiation attempt
Strength observations must reference observable signals.
9. Structural Concern Observations
Evidence-linked structural uncertainty or fragility.
Examples:
unclear differentiation
unclear trust structure
weak transparency signals
inconsistent positioning logic
Concern observations must remain measured.
10. Research Verdict Summary
Structured conclusion using:
Research Brain — Research Verdict Framework
Verdict summarises overall interpretation of observable structure.
Verdict does not simulate performance.
11. Confidence Level
Confidence classification using:
Research Brain — Research Confidence Scoring Model
Possible outputs:
Low Confidence
Moderate Confidence
High Confidence
Confidence reflects interpretation reliability.
Confidence does not predict outcome success.
12. Known Unknowns
Explicit declaration of uncertainty areas.
Examples:
unknown traffic source performance
unknown conversion behaviour
unknown backend monetisation
unknown operational stability
Unknowns must remain visible.
Unknowns must not be smoothed away.
13. Recommended Next Step Signal
Directional guidance for Affiliate Brain attention prioritisation.
Examples:
Suitable for structured testing review
Requires further research depth
Structural clarity insufficient
Potentially lower priority opportunity
Mixed signals environment
Research Brain suggests direction.
Affiliate Brain decides testing priority.
Output Format Expectations
Handoff output must be:
structured
comparable across opportunities
evidence-aware
uncertainty-visible
neutral in tone
Outputs must avoid:
promotional tone
predictive language
exaggerated certainty
simulated performance conclusions
Authority Boundary
Research Brain must not include:
launch recommendation language
budget recommendation language
scale recommendation language
traffic recommendation language
campaign optimisation advice
These remain Affiliate Brain authority.
Minimum Quality Requirement
Research handoff must contain sufficient structural clarity for Affiliate Brain to understand:
what the opportunity is
how the offer is structured
how the funnel operates
how the market appears structured
where uncertainty exists
Low clarity outputs must explicitly indicate uncertainty.
Relationship to Affiliate Brain Opportunity Queue
Handoff outputs populate the opportunity queue environment.
Affiliate Brain may use research structure to:
prioritise testing attention
compare opportunity structures
identify structural patterns across opportunities
Research Brain provides context.
Testing produces behavioural evidence.
Relationship to Research Evidence Standards
All handoff information must comply with:
Research Brain — Offer Evidence Standards
Research Brain — Offer Source Validation Framework
Weak evidence must remain visible as weak evidence.
Relationship to Finance Brain
Research outputs may later inform Finance Brain evaluation context.
Research Brain must not simulate financial conclusions.
Research Brain must not estimate profitability.
Finance Brain evaluates economic survivability separately.
Drift Protection
Research Brain must not become:
a pseudo Affiliate Brain
a campaign strategy layer
a financial modelling layer
a prediction engine
Research Brain must remain:
structured intelligence support
evidence-aware
uncertainty-visible
bounded by authority
Architectural Intent
The Research → Affiliate Handoff Protocol ensures structured research outputs remain usable inside MWMS decision flow without introducing interpretation drift or authority confusion.
Consistency improves testing prioritisation clarity.
Final Rule
Research Brain informs opportunity understanding.
Affiliate Brain validates opportunity behaviour.
Research Brain supports decision context.
Affiliate Brain observes real-world response.
Change Log entry
Add this to Research Brain Change Log:
2026-03-26 — Added Research → Affiliate Handoff Protocol v1.0
Change Type: Structural Extension
Authority: Research Brain
Scope Impact: Defines structured data handoff requirements between Research Brain and Affiliate Brain
Parent Architecture Impact: None
Decision Authority Impact: None
Backward Compatibility: Maintained
Summary
Added new protocol:
Research Brain — Research → Affiliate Handoff Protocol v1.0
Defines required structured outputs including offer overview, offer model, funnel classification, market interpretation, competitor observations, platform risk signals, structural strengths, structural concerns, research verdict, confidence level, known unknowns, and recommended next-step signal.
Reason for Change
Affiliate Brain required consistent research structure to improve opportunity queue clarity and testing prioritisation consistency.
Architectural Intent
Improve cross-brain communication clarity and preserve authority boundaries between Research Brain interpretation and Affiliate Brain behavioural validation.