What is a Research Puzzle?
Research puzzles require geocachers to look up information, answer trivia questions, or investigate topics to find the values needed to calculate the final coordinates. The answers to research questions become the digits or variables in a coordinate formula.
These puzzles are educational and engaging, often teaching solvers something new while they work toward finding the cache. They're perfect for highlighting local history, celebrating interests, or creating themed puzzle series.
Key Characteristics
- Question-based: Answers to questions provide coordinate values
- Verifiable answers: Questions have definitive, researchable answers
- Educational: Solvers learn while they search for answers
- Thematic: Often built around a specific topic or interest area
Popular Research Topics
History
- • Local landmarks
- • Famous battles
- • Historical figures
- • Founding dates
Science
- • Periodic table
- • Astronomy
- • Physics constants
- • Biology
Geography
- • Capital cities
- • Mountains
- • Rivers
- • Country facts
Culture
- • Literature
- • Music
- • Art history
- • Sports records
Local Knowledge
- • Town history
- • Local celebrities
- • Regional facts
- • Landmarks
Question Types
Numeric Answers
Questions that naturally produce numbers — dates, quantities, measurements, or rankings.
Example:
"In what year did Queen Victoria ascend to the throne?"
Answer: 1837 → Provides digits 1, 8, 3, 7
Word Value Answers
Questions with word answers that are converted to numbers using letter values (A=1, B=2, etc.) or word sums.
Example:
"What is the chemical symbol for Gold?"
Answer: Au → A(1) + U(21) = 22
Letter Position Answers
Extract specific letters or positions from researched answers to build coordinates or keywords.
Example:
"What planet is known as the Red Planet? Take the 4th letter."
Answer: Mars → 4th letter = S = 19
Counted Answers
Count elements within the answer — letters, words, syllables, or specific characters.
Example:
"Who wrote 'Pride and Prejudice'? Count the letters in the surname."
Answer: Jane Austen → AUSTEN = 6 letters
Example Research Puzzle
Cache description excerpt:
"Test your knowledge of British history to find this cache!"
- In what year did the Great Fire of London occur? (A = sum of digits)
- How many wives did Henry VIII have? (B = this number)
- What year did the Battle of Hastings take place? (C = last two digits)
- How many letters in the surname of the architect of St Paul's? (D = count)
Final: N 51° AB.CDE W 000° 0D.ABC
Solution:
- 1666 → 1+6+6+6 = 19, so A = 19
- 6 wives, so B = 6
- 1066 → last two digits = 66, so C = 66
- Christopher Wren → WREN = 4 letters, so D = 4
Tips for Creating Research Puzzles
- 1Use stable facts: Avoid questions whose answers might change (e.g., "current world record").
- 2Be unambiguous: Questions should have only one correct, verifiable answer.
- 3Make it searchable: Answers should be findable with reasonable internet research.
- 4Include a checksum: Add a verification step so solvers know their research is correct.
- 5Balance difficulty: Mix easy and harder questions to keep it engaging but achievable.