O037 · tool
Choice Observatory decision journal
A browser-local journal for comparing options by impact, reversibility, confidence and named assumptions, without pretending to predict the future.
Use the journal
Purpose
Use a simple, inspectable journal when several options feel equally plausible. The tool makes assumptions visible and preserves a local snapshot of how you were thinking; it does not forecast which option will succeed.
Inputs And Outputs
For up to three options, enter a name, impact (1-5), reversibility (1-5), confidence (1-5) and one key assumption. The browser computes the same weighted score every time from the same inputs: 45% impact + 25% reversibility + 30% confidence. You can export the rows as JSON.
Methodology
The weights are an ICU-designed prompt, not a validated psychological model. Reversibility gets its own weight because a high-impact option can be easier to test when it is cheap to undo. Confidence is deliberately separate from impact so an exciting option with weak evidence is visibly different from a well-supported one.
Limitations
A numeric score compresses nuance and can hide dependencies. Do not use this tool as the sole basis for medical, legal, safety-critical or high-stakes financial decisions. Browser-local storage can be cleared by the device; export JSON if the record matters.
How To Use
Name each option, move the three sliders, and write the assumption most likely to make the score wrong. Read the sorted comparison, then ask a second question that the score cannot answer: what is the smallest reversible test that would change your confidence?