Step 7: The Assumption Killer

From the loaded papers, identify 5-8 of the most significant assumptions that the majority of these papers share but never verify, justify, or acknowledge as assumptions.

Focus On Assumptions That

(a) serve as the foundation for conclusions
(b) could be wrong or context-dependent

For Each Assumption

Assumption: Formulate as a firm assertion, e.g. "X causes Y under all conditions"
Shared by: List 2-3 papers that rely on this assumption most heavily
Risk level: Rate as Low / Medium / High based on how much the literature would suffer if this assumption turns out to be wrong
- Low = minor revision of conclusions needed
- Medium = key results would be questioned

Step 7: The Assumption Killer

From the loaded papers, identify 5-8 of the most significant assumptions that the majority of these papers share but never verify, justify, or acknowledge as assumptions.

Focus On Assumptions That

(a) serve as the foundation for conclusions
(b) could be wrong or context-dependent

For Each Assumption

Assumption: Formulate as a firm assertion, e.g. "X causes Y under all conditions"
Shared by: List 2-3 papers that rely on this assumption most heavily
Risk level: Rate as Low / Medium / High based on how much the literature would suffer if this assumption turns out to be wrong
- Low = minor revision of conclusions needed
- Medium = key results would be questioned

Excuse	Reality
"These papers don't make assumptions"	Every paper makes assumptions. Look at what they take as given without testing.
"All assumptions are low risk"	If an assumption is foundational to conclusions, its failure has at least medium impact.
"I found only 3"	Dig deeper into methodology assumptions, definitional assumptions, and scope assumptions.

Assumption Killer

Step 7: The Assumption Killer

Focus On Assumptions That

For Each Assumption

Assumption Killer

Step 7: The Assumption Killer

Focus On Assumptions That

For Each Assumption

Sorting

Exit Criteria

Anti-Rationalization Table

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