The limits of the sciences in identifying causes and scientific laws

Project leader: Alexander Krauss

Scientists do not often question the scientific methods used to generate causes in their particular scientific models. This research project investigates leading scientific methods, including randomised experiments, and their implicit theory, assumptions and limitations. Better understanding the limits of using particular methods in the sciences is important for research and policy, because these methods can often lead to some degree of biased results and scientists using them at times misguidedly claim to establish causal relationships. By combining theoretical, methodological and empirical analysis, this research project aims to help disentangle the links between the actual methods applied by scientists and the causal effects they claim to identify using these methods.

Alexander Krauss is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. He has also taught at University College London. His research focuses largely on the limits of science and scientific methodology. He has a Bachelor's in Philosophy, a Master's in Philosophy, as well as in Political Science, and a PhD in Development Economics and Applied Statistics.