Thinking Empirically

Have you ever asked a simple question online and been met with a dozen conflicting answers?

Over the past several decades, it has become faster and easier than ever to access information. And with the rapid acceleration of AI tools, the speed and scale of that access will only continue to grow.

So why do many of us feel less confident than ever in what we know?

More information hasn’t led to more understanding. If anything, the opposite often feels true. As it’s become easier to quickly get an answer to any question we can think of, it’s become more difficult to trust what we find. That gap — between abundant information and limited understanding — is fueling growing frustration in once-trusted sources and the technologies that deliver them.

More information isn’t enough. What we’re missing is the right critical thinking toolbox to turn information into understanding.

The good news is that researchers have developed the tools we need over centuries: how to evaluate evidence, test ideas, resolve conflicting viewpoints, and learn from feedback. Even better, you don’t need a lab coat to use these tools. Anyone can adopt these approaches to make better decisions, learn skills faster, and feel more confident navigating today’s information overload.

This is why I’m launching Thinking Empirically – to bring the mindset of research and experimentation into everyday life.

The goal isn’t to turn ordinary decisions into formal scientific studies. Instead, it’s about borrowing a few simple ideas from the research world — defining clear goals, testing one change at a time, and learning systematically from experience — so that we can make better decisions with less frustration.

Whether the question is how to cook a better pasta sauce, what will accelerate learning a new language, or which conflicting piece of advice online is best, the same basic principles apply.

Thinking Empirically is about helping you apply these principles to stay grounded, confident, and in control of your decisions, even in a world overflowing with information. Looking for a place to start? Check out the Thinking Empirically Framework.