Winter storm, January 17, 2024

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

• Sourcepresent25/25

  Final assessment

  Unanimous: signed with the branded 'BroncoAlert' signature naming Boise State University.

  Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. present: Signed "BroncoAlert," the branded alert signature naming Boise State University.
  2. present: 'BroncoAlert' is the branded signature identifying Boise State's system.
  3. present: Branded 'BroncoAlert' signature identifies sender
  4. present: branded signature 'BroncoAlert' identifies the sender/institution
  5. present: Branded 'BroncoAlert' and names Boise State University.
  6. present: 'BroncoAlert' branded signature
  7. present: Branded 'BroncoAlert' and 'Boise State University' named
  8. present: Branded signature 'BroncoAlert' and 'Boise State University' identify the sender.
  9. present: Branded 'BroncoAlert' and names Boise State University.
  10. present: 'BroncoAlert' and 'Boise State University' named.
  11. present: 'BroncoAlert' signature identifies issuing system.
  12. present: Branded 'BroncoAlert' signature identifies the Boise State system.
  13. present: 'BroncoAlert' branded signature identifies sender.
  14. present: 'BroncoAlert' identifies the branded alert system.
  15. present: 'BroncoAlert' and 'Boise State University' identified as issuer.
  16. present: 'BroncoAlert' is the branded alert signature.
  17. present: 'BroncoAlert' and 'Boise State University' named.
  18. present: 'BroncoAlert' branded signature (Boise State)
  19. present: 'BroncoAlert' and 'Boise State University' named
  20. present: Branded 'BroncoAlert' identifies Boise State University as issuer.
  21. present: 'BroncoAlert' is a branded signature for Boise State University
  22. present: 'BroncoAlert' and 'Boise State University' named
  23. present: 'BroncoAlert' and 'Boise State University' named.
  24. present: 'BroncoAlert' branded signature identifies the issuer.
  25. present: Begins with the branded 'BroncoAlert' signature.
• Hazardpresent18/25

  Final assessment

  A clear majority found 'weather conditions' names a hazard category, even though several reads flagged it as vague and generic; the majority view is that it is specific enough tied to the delay decision.

  What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. absent: Only says "weather conditions" generically, without naming a specific hazard like storm or snow.
  2. absent: 'Weather conditions' is too generic to name a specific hazard type.
  3. present: 'weather conditions' is somewhat generic but tied to delay decision
  4. present: names 'weather conditions' generically but ties to class delay, borderline specific
  5. present: Names weather conditions as cause of delay.
  6. present: 'weather conditions' names general hazard type, though vague
  7. present: 'weather conditions'
  8. absent: 'weather conditions' is generic and does not name a specific hazard type.
  9. absent: 'weather conditions' is vague, no specific hazard type named.
  10. present: 'Due to weather conditions' names hazard generically but tied to a specific cause.
  11. present: 'weather conditions' is vague but tied to delay decision.
  12. absent: Only says 'weather conditions' without naming a specific hazard type.
  13. absent: Only generic 'weather conditions' mentioned, no specific hazard named.
  14. present: 'weather conditions' is fairly generic; considered borderline but weather is somewhat specific hazard category.
  15. present: 'weather conditions' names the general hazard.
  16. present: 'weather conditions' is vague but tied to a delay action; borderline but not specific hazard named.
  17. present: 'weather conditions' is vague but somewhat specific in context of delay.
  18. present: 'weather conditions' vague but tied to delay, borderline
  19. present: 'weather conditions'
  20. present: States 'weather conditions'.
  21. present: 'weather conditions' named, though somewhat generic
  22. present: 'weather conditions'
  23. present: 'weather conditions' cited, though vague.
  24. present: 'weather conditions' is somewhat vague but named as cause.
  25. absent: 'Weather conditions' is generic, no specific storm type named.
• Locationpresent13/25

  Final assessment

  A majority found 'Boise State University' sufficiently names the affected campus location, though a substantial minority felt this is only the sender's identity rather than a distinct location detail.

  Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. present: Names "Boise State University."
  2. present: Names 'Boise State University' as the affected campus.
  3. present: 'Boise State University' named as location
  4. absent: no specific location beyond naming the university generally, no building/area
  5. present: References university/campus implicitly via institution name.
  6. absent: No specific location named beyond implicitly the university
  7. absent: No specific location named beyond the university itself, not a place within campus
  8. present: Names 'Boise State University'.
  9. present: Names 'Boise State University'.
  10. present: 'Boise State University' implies campus location.
  11. absent: No specific location given beyond implicit campus.
  12. present: Names Boise State University.
  13. present: 'Boise State University' named as the affected campus.
  14. absent: No specific location beyond implicit campus, not stated explicitly.
  15. absent: No specific location beyond implied campus.
  16. present: 'Boise State University' named as campus.
  17. absent: No specific location beyond implied campus-wide.
  18. present: 'Boise State University' named as campus
  19. absent: no specific location, only implicitly campus-wide via class delay
  20. absent: No specific place named beyond the university itself, which is the sender not a location detail.
  21. absent: No specific campus location beyond institution name given
  22. absent: no location specified beyond the university generally, no campus area named
  23. absent: No specific location named beyond implied campus.
  24. present: 'Boise State University' named as location/campus.
  25. present: Names 'Boise State University'.
• Guidancepresent15/25

  Final assessment

  A majority read the class delay itself, plus the direction to see email for further instructions, as functioning as protective/administrative guidance; a sizable minority disagreed, calling it a status update with no explicit action.

  The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. absent: Refers to "email for further details/instructions" rather than giving direct instruction here.
  2. present: Directs recipients to see email for further details/instructions.
  3. absent: Only informs of delay, no protective action instructed
  4. present: tells recipients classes delayed and to see email for instructions
  5. present: Directs students to see email for further instructions.
  6. present: 'delaying in-person classes until noon' functions as instruction
  7. present: 'delaying in-person classes until noon'
  8. absent: No protective action instructed, just informs of a class delay and points to email.
  9. absent: No direct protective action, just a delay notice referring to email.
  10. present: Instructs delaying classes, see email for instructions.
  11. absent: Only informs of a class delay, no protective action instructed.
  12. present: Delays in-person classes until noon, an implicit instruction not to attend.
  13. present: 'delaying in-person classes' functions as instruction/action to take.
  14. present: 'delaying in-person classes' functions as instruction/status affecting recipients' actions.
  15. present: Delaying in-person classes and see email for instructions.
  16. present: States classes delayed, implicit instruction to not attend until noon.
  17. absent: No direct protective action, only schedule info.
  18. absent: No direct protective action, just delay notice
  19. absent: informational delay notice, no protective action
  20. absent: Only informs of a class delay, refers to email, no explicit protective action.
  21. present: Tells recipients classes delayed until noon, effectively an instruction
  22. present: 'delaying in-person classes until noon', directs recipients on schedule
  23. present: 'delaying in-person classes' and directs to email for instructions.
  24. present: 'delaying in-person classes until noon' functions as an action directive.
  25. absent: Delaying classes is administrative, not a protective instruction.
• Timepresent25/25

  Final assessment

  Unanimous: 'until noon today' gives a specific time reference.

  When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. present: States classes are delayed "until noon today."
  2. present: 'Until noon today' gives a specific time.
  3. present: 'until noon today' gives specific time
  4. present: 'until noon today' gives specific time and date reference
  5. present: States classes delayed 'until noon today'.
  6. present: 'until noon today'
  7. present: 'until noon today'
  8. present: States 'until noon today'.
  9. present: 'until noon today' gives specific time.
  10. present: 'delaying in-person classes until noon today' gives time.
  11. present: 'until noon today' gives specific time.
  12. present: States classes delayed 'until noon today.'
  13. present: 'until noon today' gives specific time.
  14. present: 'until noon today' gives specific time.
  15. present: 'until noon today' gives specific time.
  16. present: 'until noon today' given.
  17. present: 'until noon today'.
  18. present: 'delaying in-person classes until noon today'
  19. present: 'delaying in-person classes until noon today'
  20. present: 'until noon today' gives specific time.
  21. present: 'delaying...until noon today' gives specific time
  22. present: 'until noon today'
  23. present: 'until noon today'.
  24. present: 'until noon today' gives time.
  25. present: States classes delayed 'until noon today'.
• Impactabsent0/25

  Final assessment

  Unanimous: no statement of potential harm or severity from the weather is given.

  What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

  See all 25 individual reads

  1. absent: No statement of potential harm from the weather.
  2. absent: No statement of what the weather could cause.
  3. absent: No stated consequence of the weather
  4. absent: no stated potential harm or severity of the weather
  5. absent: No stated consequence of weather beyond delay.
  6. absent: No stated severity/consequence of the weather
  7. absent: No stated severity of the weather
  8. absent: No stated consequence of the weather is given.
  9. absent: No stated consequence of the weather.
  10. absent: No stated consequence of the weather.
  11. absent: No stated severity of weather conditions.
  12. absent: No statement of potential harm from the weather.
  13. absent: No stated consequence of the weather.
  14. absent: No stated consequence of the weather beyond the delay.
  15. absent: No stated severity of the weather.
  16. absent: No stated consequence of the weather.
  17. absent: No stated consequence of the weather.
  18. absent: No stated consequence of the weather
  19. absent: no stated severity of the weather
  20. absent: No stated consequence of the weather.
  21. absent: No stated danger or severity of the weather
  22. absent: no stated severity of the weather
  23. absent: No stated consequence of the weather.
  24. absent: No stated consequence or severity of the weather.
  25. absent: No stated consequence of the weather.