mikenguyen13/research-methods-mcp

A Model Context Protocol server that grounds AI assistants in methodological texts: study design recommendations, identifying assumptions, runnable R and Python code, and a citation for every source.
The Research Methods Library is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. Given a research question, it recommends candidate designs, states their identifying assumptions, returns runnable R and Python code, and supplies a formatted citation for every source consulted. Its index contains approximately 17,000 sections from 8 books, an R package, and the author's research articles (listed under Sources) covering causal inference, econometrics, experimental design, marketing research, credit scoring, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
The server works with Claude, ChatGPT, Amazon Bedrock AgentCore, Cursor, Visual Studio Code, and any other MCP-compatible client. Access is free and requires no account or API key.
## Installation
Endpoint: https://research-methods-mcp.vercel.app/mcp. Access is free and requires no account or API key.
| Client | Configuration |
| Claude (web, desktop, and mobile) | Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector; enter the endpoint |
| Claude Code | claude mcp add --transport http research-methods https://research-methods-mcp.vercel.app/mcp |
| ChatGPT | Settings → enable developer mode → add a custom connector of type MCP server with the endpoint and no authentication |
| Amazon Bedrock AgentCore | Add the endpoint as an MCP server target of an AgentCore Gateway, with no outbound authorization: agentcore add gateway-target --name research-methods --type mcp-server --endpoint https://research-methods-mcp.vercel.app/mcp --gateway , then agentcore deploy |
| Cursor, Visual Studio Code | Use the buttons above |
| Windsurf, Cline, Zed, and other clients | Add the following JSON to the client's MCP configuration |
json
"mcpServers": {
"research-methods": {
"url": "https://research-methods-mcp.vercel.app/mcp"
## Example queries
> States raised the minimum wage in different years. How do I estimate the effect on teen employment?
For this query the assistant calls choosemethod, which returns staggered difference-in-differences together with its scope conditions, the reason a conventional two-way fixed-effects regression can be biased when treatment effects are heterogeneous, the assumptions to verify, implementations in R (did, fixest, didimputation, HonestDiD) and Python (csdid, pyfixest, differences), and the relevant readings.
> Give me Python code for a probability-of-default model with gradient boosting.
> Only California passed the law and I have 30 years of state data. What can I do?
> Write the methods section for my regression discontinuity and give me BibTeX for the sources.
Each response links to the specific section consulted and carries the citation of the work from which it is drawn.
## Tools
| Tool | What it does |
| choosemethod | Matches a research question to methods, with when to use each, key assumptions, R and Python packages, and readings. 62 curated methods. |
| search | Finds sections across all works, with links, snippets, code languages, and a citation. Compatible with ChatGPT deep research. |