RESEARCH
Research that has to prove something.
Research exists to test the material claims capable of changing the Decision.
Start with what matters.
The analysis first identifies what needs to be known.
A fact deserves priority when changing that fact could materially change the Verdict.
Scout investigates.
Scout searches for outside information relevant to those claims.
The source strategy should adapt to the domain.
Inspector tests the evidence.
Inspector evaluates authority, freshness, relevance, directness, scope, applicability, contradiction, and strength.
A relevant source is not automatically proof of the exact claim.
Search for contradiction.
Research should actively look for evidence against the emerging favorite.
A search process that only confirms the leading case is not strong decision research.
Preserve uncertainty.
If the available evidence cannot resolve a material issue, Argumont should keep the uncertainty visible.
Unknown is an acceptable analytical state.
Evidence should affect the Decision.
Strong research should be able to strengthen a claim, weaken a claim, qualify a claim, contradict a claim, change a score, change confidence, change the leader, or change the Verdict.
Open Evidence & Research for the product surface, Evidence Quality for the method, and the question on what makes evidence strong when you need the working test.
Research and evidence pages
Evidence & Research
Argumont separates what is being claimed from what actually supports the claim. Research exists to change the Decision when the facts justify it, not to decorat...
Evidence quality
The same document can be strong evidence for one statement and almost worthless for the next. A supplier's audited accounts settle what it earned last year and ...
Evidence-based decisions
Evidence-based decision making means acting on the best available evidence, weighed for what it can actually prove, rather than on seniority, habit, or the most...
What makes evidence strong
Strong evidence is evidence that could have told you something you did not want to hear. That simple test separates most of what persuades people from what shou...
Decision Analysis
It develops an analytical record that can change as arguments are challenged, evidence is discovered, risks emerge, and assumptions fail.
Learn
Practical guides to asking a clear question, following the discussion, checking the evidence, and taking your decision record forward.
Bring Argumont a Decision worth challenging.
Start with a paid 60 day pilot on your own real Decisions.
Put a Decision under research pressure.