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Autori principali: Chen, Yanyu, Jiang, Jiyue, Liu, Jiahong, Zhang, Yifei, Guo, Xiao, King, Irwin
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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Accesso online:https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.21230
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author Chen, Yanyu
Jiang, Jiyue
Liu, Jiahong
Zhang, Yifei
Guo, Xiao
King, Irwin
author_facet Chen, Yanyu
Jiang, Jiyue
Liu, Jiahong
Zhang, Yifei
Guo, Xiao
King, Irwin
contents The evaluation of Deep Research Agents is a critical challenge, as conventional outcome-based metrics fail to capture the nuances of their complex reasoning. Current evaluation faces two primary challenges: 1) a reliance on singular metrics like Pass@1, creating a "high-score illusion" that ignores the quality, efficiency, and soundness of the reasoning process; and 2) the failure of static benchmarks to quantify crucial attributes like robustness and latent capability. To address these gaps, we introduce TRACE (Trajectory-Aware Comprehensive Evaluation), a framework that holistically assesses the entire problem-solving trajectory. To counter the "high-score illusion", we propose a Hierarchical Trajectory Utility Function that quantifies process efficiency and cognitive quality, including evidence grounding, alongside accuracy. To measure deeper attributes, TRACE introduces a Scaffolded Capability Assessment protocol, quantifying an agent's latent ability by determining the minimum guidance needed for success. Our contributions include the TRACE framework, its novel metrics, and the accompanying DeepResearch-Bench with controllable complexity. Experiments show TRACE delivers a granular ranking that uncovers critical trade-offs between agent accuracy, efficiency, and robustness entirely missed by singular metrics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_21230
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle TRACE: Trajectory-Aware Comprehensive Evaluation for Deep Research Agents
Chen, Yanyu
Jiang, Jiyue
Liu, Jiahong
Zhang, Yifei
Guo, Xiao
King, Irwin
Computation and Language
The evaluation of Deep Research Agents is a critical challenge, as conventional outcome-based metrics fail to capture the nuances of their complex reasoning. Current evaluation faces two primary challenges: 1) a reliance on singular metrics like Pass@1, creating a "high-score illusion" that ignores the quality, efficiency, and soundness of the reasoning process; and 2) the failure of static benchmarks to quantify crucial attributes like robustness and latent capability. To address these gaps, we introduce TRACE (Trajectory-Aware Comprehensive Evaluation), a framework that holistically assesses the entire problem-solving trajectory. To counter the "high-score illusion", we propose a Hierarchical Trajectory Utility Function that quantifies process efficiency and cognitive quality, including evidence grounding, alongside accuracy. To measure deeper attributes, TRACE introduces a Scaffolded Capability Assessment protocol, quantifying an agent's latent ability by determining the minimum guidance needed for success. Our contributions include the TRACE framework, its novel metrics, and the accompanying DeepResearch-Bench with controllable complexity. Experiments show TRACE delivers a granular ranking that uncovers critical trade-offs between agent accuracy, efficiency, and robustness entirely missed by singular metrics.
title TRACE: Trajectory-Aware Comprehensive Evaluation for Deep Research Agents
topic Computation and Language
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.21230