Decision Bias Audit
For a decision you have already leaned toward. Complete Step 1 honestly before running the audit.
Step 1: State the Leaning (before the audit)
- Option I am leaning toward:
- Since when:
- What would have to be true for me to change my mind:
Step 2: Fixed Six-Bias Checklist
| Bias | What it looks like | Counter-question | Found in my reasoning? (quote) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirmation bias | Searched for reasons it’s right, not reasons it’s wrong | What did I not look for? | |
| Sunk cost | Irrecoverable past investment treated as a reason to continue | Ignoring irrecoverable spend, what future costs and benefits now follow from keeping, changing, or abandoning the resulting asset? | |
| Availability heuristic | A vivid recent example outweighs the base rate | Is this common, or just memorable? | |
| Status quo bias | Current state is the default; change needs extra justification | Which wins if both options were new to me today? | |
| Framing effect | Same facts, gain vs. loss framing, different preference | Does the preference hold in the opposite frame? | |
| Base-rate neglect | A compelling specific story outweighs the general pattern | What’s the base rate before the story is added? |
Step 3: Counter-Evidence Ledger
For each bias with a real flag — not every row will have one:
| Bias flagged | Counter-evidence needed | [verify] or [illustrative] | Verified? | Changes the decision? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rule: treat any AI-generated counter-evidence as [illustrative] until you personally verify it. Unlabeled output defaults to [illustrative].
Step 4: Independent Second Pass
- Ran the same six-item checklist in a fresh conversation with no memory of my leaning, OR
- Asked a colleague who has not seen my preference to audit manually against the same list
Where the two audits agreed:
Where they diverged (requires investigation; divergence does not prove the decision is close):
Before Acting, Confirm
- All six biases checked against quoted reasoning, not general impression
- Counter-evidence verified, not just generated
- A named human — not “the AI confirmed no bias” — owns the final call
- For legal/medical/financial stakes: a qualified professional has reviewed this, not just the audit
- The record says what changed, without claiming the checklist caused a better decision