Summary  
This chapter covers the programming concept of systematically comparing and reconciling conflicting data sources by evaluating each source’s evidence, publication date, methodology, expertise, and scope to identify the most credible conclusion.

General domain of usage  
Data analysis

Sources may present different statistics, explanations, or conclusions. Comparing them helps you understand why they disagree and which evidence is stronger. Claude should consider:

* the evidence each source provides;
* the publication date;
* the research method;
* the source’s expertise;
* differences in scope or definitions.

The goal is not always to select one source as correct, but to clearly explain the disagreement and identify the best-supported conclusion.

> ### Task
> 
> * Ask Claude to compare conflicting findings in your workspace and summarise the differences.
> 
>   > **Review the findings in my workspace and identify where sources disagree. Compare their evidence, methods, dates, and scope, then explain which conclusions are best supported.**

Build a complete AI-powered research system using Claude Code. You will learn how to turn a broad topic into focused research questions, create a structured plan, find and evaluate reliable sources, and organise evidence in a reusable workspace. Through practical AI Lab chapters, you will create source libraries, compare conflicting information, store findings in a research database, and produce clear research briefs with accurate citations. By the end of the course, you will have a repeatable Claude Code workflow that can be used for future research projects.

Learn what makes a research system reliable and how to prepare a structured workspace before collecting information. You will define research questions, set the scope of the project, and create a clear research plan for Claude to follow.

Learn how to find relevant information and judge whether a source is trustworthy. You will remove weak, outdated, and duplicate sources before organising the strongest results into a structured source library.

Turn collected sources into clear and usable evidence. You will extract key findings, compare sources that disagree, and build a research database that keeps claims, evidence, and source details connected.

Use the collected evidence to develop supported conclusions and create a concise research brief. You will review claims and citations for accuracy before turning the complete process into a reusable Claude Code workflow.

Lab: Compare Conflicting Sources

Task