problem-validation

"It's just data analysis, no need for validation" is the #1 reason Type D projects fail. DO NOT SKIP THIS PHASE.

Problem Validation (Phase 2)

Overview

A direction that survived Phase 1 is a candidate, not a commitment. This skill stress-tests the research problem through adversarial questioning before resources are invested. Passing this skill is required to enter method design.

Activation Flow

digraph problem_validation {
    "G1 Passed" [shape=doublecircle];
    "Pre-Step:\nKnown answer?\nUser-specified?" [shape=diamond, style=filled, fillcolor="#f0f0f0"];
    "Tell user &\noffer alternatives" [shape=box];
    "Novelty\nLitmus Test" [shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor="#ffe0e0"];
    "Multi-Agent\nDeliberation\n(up to 5 rounds)" [shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor="#ffe0e0"];
    "Converged?" [shape=diamond];
    "Escalation:\nUser decides" [shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor="#ff9999"];
    "Project Intent\nClassification" [shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor="#e0e0ff"];
    "Venue Target\nPrecision" [shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor="#e0ffe0"];
    "Feasibility\nAssessment" [shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor="#fff0d0"];
    "All passed?" [shape=diamond];
    "Phase 3:\nMethod Design" [shape=doublecircle];
    "Return to\nPhase 1" [shape=doublecircle, style=filled, fillcolor="#ffcccc"];

    "G1 Passed" -> "Pre-Step:\nKnown answer?\nUser-specified?";
    "Pre-Step:\nKnown answer?\nUser-specified?" -> "Tell user &\noffer alternatives" [label="known answer"];
    "Pre-Step:\nKnown answer?\nUser-specified?" -> "Novelty\nLitmus Test" [label="proceed"];
    "Tell user &\noffer alternatives" -> "Novelty\nLitmus Test" [label="user chooses\nnew question"];
    "Novelty\nLitmus Test" -> "Multi-Agent\nDeliberation\n(up to 5 rounds)";
    "Multi-Agent\nDeliberation\n(up to 5 rounds)" -> "Converged?";
    "Converged?" -> "Project Intent\nClassification" [label="all PASS"];
    "Converged?" -> "Escalation:\nUser decides" [label="persistent FAIL\nor 5 rounds"];
    "Escalation:\nUser decides" -> "Return to\nPhase 1" [label="return to\nexploration"];
    "Escalation:\nUser decides" -> "Multi-Agent\nDeliberation\n(up to 5 rounds)" [label="try new\nformulation"];
    "Escalation:\nUser decides" -> "Project Intent\nClassification" [label="proceed\nas-is"];
    "Project Intent\nClassification" -> "Venue Target\nPrecision";
    "Venue Target\nPrecision" -> "Feasibility\nAssessment";
    "Feasibility\nAssessment" -> "All passed?";
    "All passed?" -> "Phase 3:\nMethod Design" [label="all ✅"];
    "All passed?" -> "Escalation:\nUser decides" [label="any ✗"];
}