Conduct a small research brief with traceable sources
When two sources disagree, how do you compare options and cite evidence?
Workplace research often compares two venues, tools, or plans. Rather than asking AI for a single “best choice,” define comparison dimensions first, verify source authority and dates, and make conflicts or gaps visible.
When a 2026 official sheet conflicts with a 2024 post: prioritize current official data
Compare across capacity, cost, and equipment; cite the authoritative recent source and keep unmentioned items unknown.
Auditorium A: 40 Seats · CNY 1,800 · Remote Host
Current official price sheet from facility management; supersedes older posts.
Outdated Claim: “CNY 1,200 with Catering”
Two-year-old secondary post conflicts with current official pricing.
Official Sheet Silent on Catering → Mark Unknown
Do not borrow the 2024 catering claim or guess without confirmation.
The method: three small steps
When two sources disagree on a figure (for instance, a September 2026 official price sheet says CNY 1,800 while a 2024 forum post says CNY 1,200), prioritize the newer primary source and note the discrepancy. Keep unmentioned items—such as catering—as “not stated / to confirm.”
Break the question into comparison dimensions
Given the 20-person target and CNY 2,000 budget cap, break the venue comparison into capacity, cost, projection/remote equipment, and catering.
Check source authority and update dates
An official price sheet (2026-09) takes precedence over an older forum post (2024-03). Record the adopted figure alongside the source name and date.
State a conditional conclusion and next questions
For example: if remote conferencing hardware is not required, the third-floor room (CNY 0) saves budget; if remote hardware or >24 seats are needed, Auditorium A (CNY 1,800, within the CNY 2,000 cap) fits, pending schedule and catering checks.
WORKED EXAMPLE
See how to improve a result
Prepared example: compare by dimension and source date
The requests and responses are prepared teaching examples, not live model output.
Read the example sources
Source A · Event notice
The team exchange event is scheduled for November 6, 14:00–16:00, in the third-floor meeting room. Sign up by November 3, 18:00. The target is 20 attendees; actual registrations have not yet been counted. No registration method, link, or event contact is provided.
Source B · Budget and equipment
The budget cap is CNY 2,000. No actual spending has been recorded. A projector is available in the meeting room.
Source C · Preparation notes
Catering and remote access are unconfirmed. Lin will organize the agenda before November 2; Zhou will confirm the attendee list before November 3. The photography owner and deadline remain unconfirmed.
The request
Which is better, the third-floor room or the park auditorium? Just give me the winner.
Example response
The park auditorium is better—it is larger, costs only CNY 1,200, and includes refreshments.
What to noticeThis is a prepared problem example. It relies on an outdated 2024 forum price and invents included refreshments.
Your turn: what would you ask next?
Try it yourself with different material
Try another comparison: evaluate two print shops
Copy the material and task into your usual tool to practice. Then review your work against the checks.
Material
Fictional sources: [S1 · Shop A quote, 2026-10] 50 booklets for CNY 450, 3 business days, shipping fee not stated. [S2 · Shop B official site, 2026-10] 50 booklets for CNY 520 (includes same-city courier), next-day delivery. [S3 · Colleague’s old 2024 note] Shop B costs CNY 380 for 50 booklets.
Task
Compare Shop A and Shop B across cost, turnaround, and shipping, resolving the 2024 note conflict and flagging what is unconfirmed.
Review your work
- Use CNY 520 from Shop B’s 2026-10 site and note that the 2024 CNY 380 figure is outdated.
- Keep Shop A’s shipping cost as unconfirmed.
- Give a conditional recommendation based on urgency and pending Shop A’s shipping quote.
Read the two venue source cards in the workspace, choose comparison dimensions, resolve the price conflict and unknowns, and write a short comparison brief.
These materials describe a fictional event. No AI model is called. Selections are checked against explicit rules; you review your own writing against the sources.
Read the original exercise materials
The team exchange event is scheduled for November 6, 14:00–16:00, in the third-floor meeting room. Sign up by November 3, 18:00. The target is 20 attendees; actual registrations have not yet been counted. No registration method, link, or event contact is provided.
The budget cap is CNY 2,000. No actual spending has been recorded. A projector is available in the meeting room.
Catering and remote access are unconfirmed. Lin will organize the agenda before November 2; Zhou will confirm the attendee list before November 3. The photography owner and deadline remain unconfirmed.
Compare options and resolve source conflicts
Third-floor meeting room: capacity 24, internal cost CNY 0, projector confirmed available; remote access and catering unconfirmed.
2026-09 official price sheet: Auditorium A holds 40 people, half-day rental CNY 1,800 (includes projector and remote conferencing host). A 2024-03 forum post claims CNY 1,200. Neither source mentions catering.
Take your work with you
Drafts stay only on this page and are not restored after refreshing or leaving. Copy or download what you want to keep. Switching language does not delete your writing.
Define dimensions first, weigh evidence by authority and date, and keep missing facts as unknown.
Try it in your own AI tool
- Open an AI chat tool you already have access to, start a new conversation, and paste the complete task sheet into its input box before sending. Use only the fictional text here; no work files, passwords, or personal details are needed.
- Check that the table cites CNY 1,800 from the 2026-09 official sheet rather than averaging CNY 1,200 and CNY 1,800.
- Verify that catering remains unconfirmed for both venues rather than assumed included for the paid auditorium.
- Save this “Comparison Table + Conflict Note + Conditional Recommendation” structure for future vendor or tool evaluations.
Complete the checks above to record your progress. This records example practice; try a different task independently to test your skill.
Explanations, cases, and exercises are authored by Reallier. Links provide further learning. The workplace activity and people are fictional.