Ascholar would most likely compare accounts of the same event written at different times in order to understand

True.

Consider a court case. A jury hears the witnesses placed on the stand. Each witness would be individually interviewed, giving an account of the same event which would be written (most likely by an officer) apart from other witnesses, very likely at different times, so that there's no collusion between witnesses. The eyewitness accounts help the Jury understand an event and is a part of their decision making.