State the decision
What decision must be made, by whom, and by when?
Describe the problem
Name the audience, situation and difficulty. Separate observations from assumptions.
Write a testable assumption
We believe [change] helps [audience] achieve [outcome]. What evidence would contradict this?
Design the smallest test
Choose a prototype or conversation, participants, task, observation method and limitations.
Set a decision rule
Before testing, define proceed, revise and stop signals. Record results and the next owner.
Worked example
Illustrative example: a founder tests whether first-time users understand an onboarding task using a paper prototype. Observed confusion informs the next iteration; this is not proof of market demand.
Keep your worksheet
Notes on this page are temporary. Download the editable worksheet to save your work.
Branded editable worksheet (.html) Plain-text worksheet (.md) PDF worksheet
Try · Review · Improve
Your first 15 minutes
Pick a user decision, write what you believe will help, and define evidence that would make you continue, revise or stop.
Come back in seven days
Record what worked, what failed and what you’ll change. Bring observations—not just a completed worksheet.
Review my experiment ↗Next worksheet: Turn a tested method into a repeatable workflow. →