Operational sequence
- Identify a neutral object, timestamp, record, or present condition available to both people.
- Describe only what is jointly observable.
- Ask whether the other person notices the same feature.
- Separate agreement about the feature from disagreement about its meaning.
- Use the shared point to choose a testable next step.
Failure states
- Forcing agreement on meaning
- Using “we both know” when there is no shared observation
- Turning grounding into a credibility test
- Removing the person from the evidence process