Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M11375

Mill's Methods

Mill's Methods
StructureHigh supportLogic
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Five inductive methods for determining causal relationships: Method of Agreement, Method of Difference, Joint Method of Agreement and Difference, Method of Residues, and Method of Concomitant Variations.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Attribution tool. When a system has a bug, use the Method of Difference: compare the environment with the bug and the environment without the bug; the unique difference is usually the cause.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Using the covariation principle of 'cause changes, effect changes', five situational comparisons are used to isolate causation: agreement (only common cause), difference (only difference), joint method, residues (subtract known), and concomitant variations (co-variation).

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mill%27s_methodsZH · Explicit
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