Spring 2006 sample final exam questions

Introduction

• Some advantages to understanding methods of problem solving (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Advantages of methods over facts (posted 23 Jan. 2006)

• Uncertainty vs. risk (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Parts per million (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Reading a table in a scientific paper (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Languages (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Risk of death (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Canned tuna (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Benchmark dose and Reference dose (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Parts Per Million (posted 17 April 2006)
• Relative risk of 2.0 (posted 23 Jan. 2006, as of 3 May 2006 this question will not be on the final exam)

Risk assessment in the US government: The Red Book and Industrial Union

• Red Book risk assessment paradigm (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Risk assessment, management and communication (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Advantages and disadvantages of generic approaches (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Causes of cancer (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Toxic ignorance (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Statutes, case law and agency practice (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Questions from David Shanks' first two classes (posted 17 March 2006)

Scientific method, as illustrated by the methylmercury case study

Scientific method

• Goal, study design, conclusion (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Scientific method, as illustrated by Grandjean et al. (1998) (posted 23 Jan. 2006)

Models

• Models employed by Grandjean et al. (1998) paper (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• False models in Grandjean et al. (1998) (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Hypotheses and model systems (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Models used to extrapolate from high to low doses (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Accuracy, convenience and repeatability (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Impediments to scientific progress (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• More models from Grandjean et al. (1998) (posted 23 Jan. 2006)

Data

• Error in Schober et al. (2003) (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Sampling error vs. bias (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Good research design (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Reducing error (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Data analysis errors (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Reducing error with good research design (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Calipers demonstration (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Figures 7-4 and 7-5 of the Methylmercury risk assessment (posted 23 Jan. 2006)

Evaluation

• Comparison of Grandjean et al. (1998) and Myers et al. (2003) (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Comparison of Grandjean et al. (1998) and Myers et al. (2003) (more) (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Three types of scientific evidence (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Correlation and causation, as illustrated by Grandjean et al. (1998) (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Correlation and causation, as illustrated by Myers et al. (1998) (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Correlation does not imply causation (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Randomization, experiments, and observations (posted 23 Jan. 2006)

Conflict and the corruption of science

• The somewhat deceptive arguments of Shore (2003) and Levin (2003) (posted 23 Jan. 2006. This question will not be on the final exam, as of 17 April 2006)
• How might Myers et al. (2003) have biased their results? (posted 23 Jan. 2006)

Risk perception

• Key models in risk perception (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Risk communication models (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Financial risk: perceptions and reality (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Perceptions of risk, uncertainty and probabilities (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Decision-making heuristics (posted 3 April 2006)

• Risk communication excercise (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• How to reduce perceived risk (posted 23 Jan. 2006)

Institutions

Risk assessment case law

• Industrial Union vs. American Petroleum Institute (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Models in science and administrative law (posted 3 April 2006)

Some institutions for reducing risk

• Compare and contrast risk-reduction regiemes (posted 23 Jan. 2006)
• Institutions (posted 3 April 2006)
• Bounded rationality vs. Maximization of expected utility (posted 3 April 2006)

Administrative law

• Challenges to procedure and to substance (posted 23 Jan. 2006)

Cost benefit analysis

• Cost benefit analysis (posted 5 April 2006)
• Questions from the 3rd and 4th classes taught by David Shanks (posted 14 April 2006)

Technology-based approaches

• Technology-based approaches to risk regulation (posted 17 April 2006)

Regulation of Mercury

• Mercury regulation under the Clean Air Act (posted 17 April 2006)
• Some mercury and risk assessment cases (posted 24 April 2006)
• Mercury chronology and regulation (posted 24 April 2006)