General Definition
A checklist is a structured list of critical steps or checks designed to reduce omissions, cognitive biases, and errors in complex or high-stakes tasks.
Evidence Context
Checklists have been shown to reduce errors in aviation, surgery, and other high-reliability fields by externalizing memory and enforcing disciplined process steps.
When to Use
- High-stakes or irreversible decisions
- Complex, multi-step processes
- Situations with known failure modes
- Tasks prone to omission or distraction
How It Improves Reasoning
- Reduces reliance on working memory
- Forces explicit consideration of key factors
- Mitigates common biases (overconfidence, omission, time pressure)
- Standardizes good practice across people and time
Steps
- Identify critical steps or checks for the decision/process.
- Convert them into a concise, ordered list.
- Use the checklist during execution, not after.
- Refine the checklist based on observed failures or near-misses.
General Example
A pre-surgery checklist that verifies patient identity, procedure, site, and critical equipment before incision.
Prompts (General)
- “Create a checklist for this high-stakes decision.”
- “What steps are too important to rely on memory alone?”
- “Turn this process into a pre-flight style checklist.”