Calm productivity for academics
No longer active
This site is now an archive of my previous work. I have moved all my ongoing writing to https://michael-rowe.github.io/home-michael/
Tag: research skills
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Stuck on a big question? Here’s how to break it down
Here’s what I’ve learned when trying to answer big questions: the question itself is the problem. Complex questions like “How do I make this work?” feel appropriately serious, but they’re actually asking you to solve for multiple variables simultaneously. The technical term for the solution is tractability—a process of breaking complex questions into components you…
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A three-stage strategy for navigating conflicting advice
Modern life demands decisions about topics outside our expertise—from managing children’s screen time to choosing healthcare approaches or evaluating educational options. We’re drowning in conflicting advice from experts who seem to contradict each other. Here’s a three-stage strategy that transforms information overwhelm into systematic understanding you can actually use.
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Four questions for making sense of contradictory information
When credible sources contradict each other, ask four questions in sequence: Who’s making this claim and why? What’s the actual evidence behind it? What are they comparing it to? What are they not telling you? This systematic approach works for a wide range of decisions you need to make, no matter what area of your…