Inherent Uncertainty

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• Unlike either art or engineering, you don't know the answer in advance.
  • It is an ethical requirement that you report the answer accurately, even if you don't like it.
• Since what is answerable is unknown, even asking questions is a creative activity. In fact, it's the most creative activity!
• Worse yet, sometimes the data says "I'm not going to tell you!"
  • One of my classmates was doing pioneering research in female labor supply, using a newly developed large data set. His statistical computation required 6 months to complete. At the end, the tests were "inconclusive", and his advisor said, "Sorry, Tom, you'll have to start again with a new topic."

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