Scientific Research: design from scratch when nobody knows or has done it before

When facing virgin territory, the first step is to identify reference situations: analogous cases in other sectors, other countries, or in history that can shed light on your issue. The goal is to avoid reinventing the wheel by capitalizing on what already exists elsewhere, even if contexts differ. We then conduct an exhaustive literature review to gather ALL existing scientific knowledge — psychology, sociology, behavioral economics, political science, organizational theory — including indirect research that can reveal the underlying mechanisms of your situation. This phase builds a solid knowledge foundation before any action.

Once knowledge is gathered, we map how actors actually think and decide in these unprecedented situations — not what they claim or believe they do. Cognitive modeling allows us to understand mental representations, judgment biases, actual trade-offs, and decision mechanisms under real conditions. We use cognitive science and behavioral economics to build predictive models of human behavior in your specific context. This step reveals the true drivers of action, often invisible in official discourse or superficial analyses.

To separate truth from falsehood, we conduct controlled experiments where we manipulate key variables, isolate real causalities, and test your strategic hypotheses under controlled conditions. These scientific experiments — inspired by Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) used in academic research — reveal what truly works, not what people believe or hope. We then quantify real functioning by isolating determining structures: identifying the 2-3 levers that REALLY tip the situation, rather than drowning in 50 useless variables. This statistical and experimental rigor guarantees reliable and actionable conclusions.

Final result: you obtain reliable foresight on what will work in your unprecedented context, clear action levers identified by scientific research, and unquestionable credibility with your stakeholders — elected officials, funders, opponents, partners. You no longer decide based on intuitions or approximate benchmarks, but on solid scientific foundations validated by academic experts. This rigorous approach allows you to justify your strategic choices, anticipate resistance, and build consensus around decisions informed by research.