Advisor prompt · Diagnose

What evidence would this recommendation need?

Use this prompt to test a recommendation against the evidence that would strengthen or weaken it, and to learn how to obtain that evidence.

When to use

Before accepting any significant recommendation, whether it comes from the advisor, the plan, or a colleague.

What context it needs

The recommendation under scrutiny.

Copyable prompt

Copy and adapt
What additional evidence would we need before making this recommendation?

Recommendation: [recommendation].

List the evidence that would make this recommendation strong, the evidence that would weaken or kill it, and whether that evidence is obtainable (which integration, source, or verification would produce it). If the recommendation can't be evidenced, say so.

What a good answer contains

Falsifiable criteria (what would strengthen and what would weaken the recommendation), plus a realistic path to obtain the evidence.

What it must not claim

Certainty either way. This prompt exists to slow down confident-sounding recommendations, not to confirm them.

Put it to work

Know what to do next.Know whether it worked.

Signal & Science keeps the evidence, the plan, and the results in one place, so each lesson here becomes a working habit in your own workspace.