Investigation: Triangulation

More sources does not mean better verification. If ten publications all cite the same original study, you have one data point with ten references — not ten data points. True triangulation requires genuinely independent sources: different methods, different investigators, different populations, different time periods. Convergence among truly independent sources is strong evidence. Convergence among sources that all trace back to the same origin is amplification, not corroboration. This skill teaches the difference and makes it operational.

Your Process

Step 1: State the Claim Write out the claim you want to triangulate, precisely. Vague claims are hard to triangulate because different sources may be speaking to different aspects.

Framing check: Confirm the specific claim before continuing. State what you've identified — the actual claim being triangulated and its scope — in one sentence, then use AskUserQuestion:

• Question: "I'm reading this as: [your one-sentence framing of the claim and its scope]. Is that right?"
• Header: "Framing"
• Options:
  • Yes — proceed — framing is correct
  • Adjust — one element is off; user will correct it before you continue
  • Reframe — different claim than read; incorporate the correction before proceeding