  To explain the observed dynamics in equilibrium single-molecule measurements
of biomolecules, the experimental observable is often chosen as a putative
reaction coordinate along which kinetic behavior is presumed to be governed by
diffusive dynamics. Here, we invoke the splitting probability as a test of the
suitability of such a proposed reaction coordinate. Comparison of the observed
splitting probability with that computed from the kinetic model provides a
simple test to reject poor reaction coordinates. We demonstrate this test for a
force spectroscopy measurement of a DNA hairpin.
