Goal
Use contradiction as information. Instead of avoiding inconsistent findings, map what researchers agree on, where they diverge, and what hidden conditions or method limits explain the disagreement.
Workflow: Comb Method
- Find consensus: list findings repeatedly supported across studies, settings, or methods.
- Separate contradictions: name the exact claim that conflicts rather than saying "the literature is mixed".
- Compare study conditions: inspect object, sample, indicator, method, time window, and context.
- Infer why the difference matters: connect the comparison to theory, mechanism, or validity.
- Mark explanation boundaries: identify what current methods or data cannot answer.
- Convert the boundary into a possible research contribution.
Contradiction Matrix
Use this table when the user provides multiple papers or claims:
| Study/claim | Finding | Object/sample | Method | Indicator | Time/context | Possible reason for difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
Then summarize in prose:
The disagreement is less about whether [factor] matters and more about when it matters. Studies using [sample/method/indicator] tend to find [result], while studies in [context/time] find [different result]. This suggests the effect may be conditional on [boundary], rather than universally positive or negative.
Difference Dimensions To Check
- Research object: region, industry, population, organization type, development stage.
- Sample: size, selection method, subgroup, representativeness.
- Indicator: how the key variable or outcome is measured.
- Method: cross-sectional, longitudinal, interview, experiment, case, meta-analysis.
- Time window: policy period, crisis period, before/after intervention, short vs long term.
- Theoretical lens: rational choice, institutional, social network, capability, cultural, ecological, etc.
Output Format
Provide:
## Consensus
- ...
## Main Contradictions
1. ...
## Contradiction Matrix
| Study/claim | Finding | Object/sample | Method | Indicator | Time/context | Possible reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
## Synthesis Paragraph
[Ready-to-use review synthesis]
## Explanation Boundaries
- Current literature cannot yet explain ...
Guardrails
- Do not force agreement by selecting only consistent studies.
- Do not claim a contradiction is solved unless the provided evidence supports the explanation.
- Distinguish observed differences from inferred importance; label inferences clearly.