The falsifiability criterion and its impact on the modern scientific research

Karl Popper's falsifiability criterion represents a pivotal point in modern epistemology. This criterion has revolutionized the methodology of scientific research by changing the approach to hypothesis testing. Popper argues that theoretical hypotheses must be empirically tested by assessing whether observations are in contrast with the theory of interest. Popper's ideas provide the theoretical basis for scientific hypothesis testing methodology. Throughout the twentieth century, scientific methods progressively embraced most of the Popperian concepts while rejecting some others. In this brief paper, we aim to highlight both the affinities and discrepancies between Popper's ideas and the statistical methodology adopted by the scientific community. Specifically, we will explore modern developments in the concept of falsifiability. Nowadays, the scientific community wholeheartedly adopts the statistical approach to hypothesis testing, considering it a fundamental cornerstone in research methodology. We will present the statistical methodology for hypothesis testing and the foundational concepts underlying these methods. Finally, an introduction to the Bayesian approach will be provided.