Principlev1
When initial hypotheses form during debugging or incident
When initial hypotheses form during debugging or incident response, enforce a mandatory observation period before hypothesis testing to prevent confirmation bias from corrupting data collection.
Why This Is a Principle
This principle derives from Belief Perseverance Against Contradictory Evidence (cognitive systems maintain existing beliefs despite contradictory evidence), Automatic Narrative Generation Precedes Conscious Evaluation (brain generates causal narratives before conscious evaluation), and Mental Models Are Singular by Default (people construct single mental models without spontaneously generating alternatives). The principle prescribes structural intervention (mandatory observation period) before hypothesis-driven investigation. It's actionable and addresses a specific high-cost failure mode in technical work.