About this episode
Fifteen years later, things are starting to feel a little uncomfortable.The scientific method— common sense codified— is used for everything under the sun:Marketing? A/B tested.Ads? Split tested.Vaccines. Test Immune Response.Water Purification. PasteurizationFertilizer. Identify Kill BacteriaSpace travel? Rocket science.The scientific method dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, with brilliant thinkers like Sir Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton laying the groundwork. It’s shaped our world ever since.Yet when it comes to habit development—the stuff that changes lives...Where is the scientific method in habit development?Awkwardly, it seems behavioral science keeps directing us to the habit loop.Again. And again.Cue ? Routine ? Reward.If you’re a rodent, a deer, or a cow, the habit loop is terrific. ? ? ?If you’re a human—with choice, intention, and self-reflection?What exactly is the habit loop doing for you?Where’s the plan? The data collection? The analysis?Where’s the mechanism to strengthen the habit’s automaticity over time?Anyone? Bueller?ShareThat’s the awkward part.The Scientific Method: Step by StepObservation – Identify a problem or ask a question.Hypothesis – Predict a possible explanation or outcome.Experiment – Design and perform a test to gather evidence.Data Collection – Measure and record results.Analysis – Evaluate the data to see what it reveals.Conclusion / Reassessment – Confirm, revise, or reject the hypothesis and iterate.Say it with me:Behavior change requires behavior change.I’m sure that sounds obvious or perhaps even stupid. And, it’s true.It’s a core truth you won’t find in the habit loop.Enter: P.A.R.R.: Plan. Act. Record. Reassess.PARR is the scientific method for behavior change.Here’s how it works—and, dare I say, perfectly aligns with the scientific method.? P.A.R.R. Is The Scientific Method For Habit Development1. PLAN = HypothesisYou choose a behavior and create a habit plan. You can even (optionally) align the habit to your goal.Choose the habit you’d like to develop and track. “Writing” for instance.Identify the Minimum Success Criteria (MSC) — e.g., "2 pages" or "20 minutes"Select the Target Days — M/W/F or Tu/Th/Sat. Here you use the rhythm of the
