DR-201b · Module 2

Resolving Contradictions

4 min read

Sources will contradict each other. This is not a failure of your research — it is a feature of reality. Different observers see different things. Different methodologies produce different numbers. Different motivations create different framings. The question is not how to avoid contradictions but how to resolve them productively.

The resolution framework has three steps. First, classify the contradiction: is it factual (the numbers disagree), interpretive (the analysis disagrees), or temporal (the information describes different time periods)? Factual contradictions demand source-quality resolution — the higher-tier source wins until disproven. Interpretive contradictions are often both right, viewed from different angles. Temporal contradictions mean you need to establish a timeline and determine which information is most current.

The most valuable contradictions are the ones that survive classification. When two Tier A sources present conflicting facts from the same time period, something interesting is happening. Either one source has an error — which is rare at Tier A but not impossible — or you are looking at a genuinely complex situation where the truth depends on how you define the terms. A company reporting "record revenue" in their earnings call while simultaneously filing for workforce reduction is not contradicting itself. It is revealing that revenue and profitability have diverged. The contradiction is the intelligence.

Do This

  • Classify every contradiction: factual, interpretive, or temporal — the resolution method depends on the type
  • When high-tier sources conflict on facts, investigate the definitions — they may be measuring different things
  • Document unresolved contradictions transparently in your output rather than hiding them

Avoid This

  • Resolve contradictions by picking the source you prefer or the conclusion that fits your thesis
  • Assume the most recent source is automatically correct — recency is one factor, not the deciding one
  • Ignore contradictions and hope the reader does not notice — unresolved contradictions in a brief destroy credibility