Power of a method

Examples

• the exception proves the rule;
• blame your predecessor;
• when in doubt, cut it out;
• to understand something is to stand under it;
• false dichotomy, as "there are two kinds of people in the world"

• find, then control key variables to make an experiment reproducible.
• make hypotheses, then try to disprove them;
• form a question, the answer to which will divide the problem space into two subspaces of about equal size;
• Occam's razor: all else being equal, the more likely hypothesis is the one with fewer assumptions;
• measure with micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with axe;

• confirm presence of blood with luminol;