How to Learn From Failure Too often, we assume that a failed experiment is a wasted effort. But not all anomalies are useless. Here’s how to make the most of them. —J.L. 1 Check Your Assumptions Ask yourself why this result feels like a failure. What theory does it contradict? Maybe the hypothesis failed, not the experiment. 2 Seek Out the Ignorant Talk to people who are unfamiliar with your experiment. Explaining your work in simple terms may help you see it in a new light. 3 Encourage Diversity If everyone working on a problem speaks the same language, then everyone has the same set of assumptions. 4 Beware of Failure-Blindness It’s normal to filter out information that contradicts our preconceptions. The only way to avoid that bias is to be aware of it.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 06:51:24 +0000
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