Contradiction Finder

Invoke this skill with the papers you want to analyze:

/contradiction-finder

Analyze contradictions across these 6 papers on [topic]:
[list of papers or paths]

Analysis Instructions

Step 1: Scan for Genuine Contradictions

Across all papers, identify points where two or more authors make claims that are:

• Mutually exclusive - both cannot be true simultaneously
• About the same phenomenon - addressing identical research questions or constructs
• Substantive - not merely methodological preferences or scope differences

Exclude:

• Differences in emphasis (both can be true)
• Different scopes (comparing apples to oranges)
• Methodological preferences without conflicting conclusions
• Nuanced distinctions that don't contradict

Step 2: Document Each Contradiction

For each genuine contradiction, extract:

1. Contested Claim - the specific point of disagreement in one sentence
2. Position A - what one paper/author claims (with citation)
3. Position B - what the opposing paper/author claims (with citation)
4. Root Cause - why they disagree

Step 3: Diagnose Root Causes

For each contradiction, classify the root cause as one of:

• Methodology - different research methods led to different conclusions
• Dataset - analyzed different populations, time periods, or samples
• Time period - claims true at different historical moments
• Definition of terms - using same words for different concepts
• Other - specify the unique cause

Step 4: Prioritize Contradictions

Rank contradictions by significance:

• How central is this to the field's core questions?
• How many papers are involved in the disagreement?
• Does resolving this unlock other questions?

Target: Aim for 5-10 contradictions. If fewer exist, list all you find and note why.

Important Guidelines

• Be strict - only include true contradictions where both positions cannot simultaneously be correct
• Be specific - cite exact papers and quote claims when possible
• Be diagnostic - identify why researchers reached different conclusions
• Be comprehensive - scan the entire paper set, not just abstracts or conclusions
• Be ranked - present most significant contradictions first

Output Format

Use the template to create a structured analysis table.

Next Steps

After identifying contradictions, consider:

• /methodology-audit - Compare research methods that led to contradictory findings
• /assumption-killer - Examine if shared assumptions underlie the disagreements
• /gap-scanner - Identify what research is needed to resolve contradictions