These are example questions for the final exam in t-701-rem4-14-3, some of which have actually appeared on prior exams.

Note that anything in the assigned reading materials may potentially appear on the final exam, but the greatest emphasis in the final exam will follow the emphasis presented in the lectures and lecture notes (wiki pages) for the course.

1. Why do we use/need statistical procedures for scientific experiments?

2. What is the difference between an hypothesis and a theory?

3. What role does falisification have in scientific theories?

1. What are dependent and independent variables in scientific experiments?

2. What is an experimental design and what are the main things to keep in mind when designing one?

3. How do we design an experiment for a hypothesis in which the standard comparison group approach is not possible?

1. What do the concepts of induction, abduction, and deduction refer to, and how do they relate to scientific research?

2. What distinguishes a proper scientific theory from pseudoscience, according to the philosopher Karl Popper?

3. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying that a scientific theory should be “as simple as possible, but not simpler”, a principle also known as Occam's Razor. What is the relation of this idea to science?