Random entry: force a random stimulus into the problem

Open a dictionary to a random word, then connect it to the problem — the forced association breaks the current pattern lock.

Why it works

The brain is primed to follow familiar associative pathways when confronting a known problem. A randomly introduced stimulus has no logical connection to the problem, forcing the mind to construct a bridge between two unrelated domains. That bridging process activates conceptual combinations not accessible from within the problem’s own frame — this is the same mechanism that makes analogical reasoning and creative metaphor productive.

How to do it

1. State the problem clearly in one sentence.
2. Open a book, dictionary, or random-word generator to a completely arbitrary word or image.
3. List five attributes or associations of the random word without filtering.
4. Force-fit each attribute back to the problem: "How could [attribute] change our approach to [problem]?"
5. Generate as many bridges as possible before evaluating any of them.

Evidence

Remote-associates and forced-association tasks produce genuine creative outputs in lab settings; the random-entry technique is a practical application of the principle that distant conceptual combinations generate novel ideas. The specific technique is practitioner-reported and widely used in design contexts. (mechanistic)

Laboratory evidence supports forced association as a creativity technique generally; de Bono’s specific random-entry format has not been compared to controls in published trials.

Common mistake

Choosing a word that feels "relevant" rather than truly random, which defeats the mechanism — the point is to import a frame with no prior connection to the problem.