Scaffolding Lab
InteractiveExperiment with conversational scaffolding. Build a sequence of turns and watch how the predicted epistemic mode shifts. Learn which strategies establish honesty norms.
Quick Start Presets
Add Scaffolding Turn
Current Scaffolding Sequence
No scaffolding turns added yet.
Select a template and example from the left to begin building.
Test It
After your scaffolding sequence, try asking one of these prompts:
The same prompt produces different responses based on your scaffolding!
Scaffolding Principles
Establishing Norms
Early turns have outsized effect. "I want to understand your actual capabilities" establishes a norm that persists across the entire conversation.
Reinforcement
Once established, norms need only light reinforcement. A simple "stick to facts" maintains the trajectory without full re-establishment.
Default to Creative
Without scaffolding, AI agents default to creative elaboration on ambiguous prompts. This isn't dishonesty — it's helpful engagement without epistemic constraints.