problem-framing-audit
Problem Framing Audit (Discipline -1)
Before you solve, audit the frame. A flawless solution to the wrong problem is still a wrong answer.
Purpose
The first failure mode in critical thinking is solving the wrong problem precisely (Mitroff & Featheringham 1974, Type III error). Most "thinking harder" effort runs downstream of a frame that was never audited — the user's literal request, restated as my plan, treated as ground truth. This skill is the structural answer.
The frame audit runs before the materiality gate. Materiality asks "if I get this answer wrong, would it change anything?" Framing asks something prior: "am I even working on the right question?"
When to Activate
| Trigger | Activation |
|---|---|
| Single-file edit, < 15 minutes of work, mechanical task | Skip — frame audit adds friction without payoff |
| Task uses the words "fix", "improve", "make faster", "speed up", "broken", "make it work" | Always audit — these phrases hide a symptom-frame |
| Task spans 3+ files, requires architectural choice, or estimates > 15 minutes | Always audit |
| User restates the same request after a failed attempt | Always audit — repeated failure is a signal the frame is wrong |
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