The Mom Test Rules

Biological Parallel

The Mom Test rules (talk about their life, ask about specifics, listen more than talk) mirror optimal-foraging-theory methodology in field biology. Do not ask an American crow 'Would you eat this berry?'—observe which berries they actually consume and measure nutritional outcomes via diet-selection data. Blue jays reveal preferences through caching behavior, not surveys. Honeybees and bumblebees demonstrate the marginal-value-theorem through flower choices, not hypothetical patch assessments. Central-place-foraging studies track revealed preferences: What did you eat yesterday? Show me where you found it. Field biology succeeds through observation of actual behavior, not surveys about hypothetical intentions. Do the same with customers—watch what they do, not what they say they would do.