credulous

During office hours , Mira presented her literature review to her supervisor , hoping to clarify an ambiguous claim that had guided part of her methodology . Her supervisor listened attentively and encouraged her to remain skeptical rather than credulous , especially when a finding rested on a single , anecdotal observation . They discussed strategies to corroborate the result , including triangulating data sources , re - examining the original dataset , and contacting the paper's authors for further details . Although it was tempting to accept the conclusion because it supported her hypothesis , she recognized that rigorous inquiry required patience and precise verification . By assembling parallel studies and scrutinizing their methodologies , she began to discern patterns that either strengthened or undermined the initial assertion . At the end of the meeting , they agreed on a conservative plan of action that would refine her argument provided that subsequent evidence proved consistent .