Advice Quote by Carol Tavris, Elliot Aronson
““If you want advice on what product to buy, ask someone who is still gathering information and is still open-minded. And if you want to know whether a program will help you, don't rely on testimonials: Get the data from controlled experiments.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Decision Making, 2015
Advice should come from those still open to data, not from biased testimonials; rely on controlled experiments for truth.
In simple terms: Seek unbiased data, not opinions.
Key Takeaway
Use experiments, not anecdotes.
Themes
critical thinking
decision making
skepticism
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
advisory
educational
When to use this quote
- product selection
- program evaluation
- business strategy
- personal choices
Key Concepts
bias
experimental method
testimonials
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you design a simple experiment to test a claim?
- What sources might still be biased?
A Different Perspective
Testimonials can be persuasive but may hide flaws.
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