Practice Quiz - Introduction, Acquiring Knowledge, and the Scientific Method

Last year Tim and his friend Jack were both too short to ride the roller coaster. Jack went to the park this year and was tall enough to ride. Tim knows that he is taller than Jack, so he knows that he will be able to ride the roller coaster as well. Which method of knowing is Tim using? A. Rational method B. Method of empiricism C. Scientific method D. Method of authority

A. Rational method

Which method of knowing is being used by a student who believes that his performance on tests is influenced by wearing a lucky hat? A. The method of tenacity B. The method of empiricism C. The method of authority D. The method of faith

A. The method of tenacity

True or False: We use our hypothesis as a universal premise statement and then determine the conclusions or predictions that must logically follow if the hypothesis is true. A. True B. False

A. True

Which of the following is a distinction between science and pseudoscience? A. Pseudoscience tends to treat criticism as a personal attack. B. All of the other options are differences between science and pseudoscience. C. Pseudoscience tends to dismiss or refuse to accept negative results. D. Pseudoscience tends to rely on testimonials and selected results.

B. All of the other options are differences between science and pseudoscience.

True or False: Inductive reasoning requires many observations to generate a general hypothesis. A. True B. False

B. False

True or False: If the individuals are human, they are called participants. Nonhumans are called subjects. A. False B. True

B. True

Which of the following is not a step that describes the research process? A. Evaluate the prediction by making systematic, planned observations B. Use the observations to support, refute, or refine the original hypothesis C. Use your hypothesis to generate a testable prediction D. Change your hypothesis when necessary to fit your results

B. Use the observations to support, refute, or refine the original hypothesis

The scientific method is... A. a method of acquiring knowledge that looks at issues of racial tensions in the U.S. The knowledge of racial tensions is then accepted as unquestionable truth. B. a method of acquiring knowledge that uses observations to develop a hypothesis, and then uses the hypothesis to make logical predictions that can be empirically tested by making additional, systematic observations. C. a method of acquiring facts that uses persuasion to develop opinions, and then uses the opinions to make logical predictions that cannot be empirically tested by making additional, systematic observations.

B. a method of acquiring knowledge that uses observations to develop a hypothesis, and then uses the hypothesis to make logical predictions that can be empirically tested by making additional, systematic observations.

In the context of science, a hypothesis is... A. a final answer to a question or investigation. B. a statement that describes or explains a relationship between or among variables. A hypothesis is not a final answer but rather a proposal to be tested and evaluated. C. a statement that describes or explains the disconnect between or among variables. A hypothesis is not a final answer but rather an opinion that gives credibility to a problem.

B. a statement that describes or explains a relationship between or among variables. A hypothesis is not a final answer but rather a proposal to be tested and evaluated.

In logical reasoning, premise statements... A. describe opinions that are presumed to be true. B. describe facts or assumptions that are presumed to be true. C. describe facts or assumptions that are presumed to be false.

B. describe facts or assumptions that are presumed to be true.

Deduction, or deductive reasoning... A. uses observations as the basis for reaching a solution to a problem. B. uses a general statement as the basis for reaching a conclusion about specific examples. C. uses a specific statement as the basis for reaching a conclusion about a broader issue.

B. uses a general statement as the basis for reaching a conclusion about specific examples.

An argument is... A. a set of scientific findings that are logically combined to yield a new way of looking a the world. B. a set of opinions that are supported by personal beliefs that combine to yield a conclusion. C. a set of premise statements that are logically combined to yield a conclusion.

C. a set of premise statements that are logically combined to yield a conclusion.

In the method of tenacity... A. information is believed to be false because it is not supported by the beliefs of people from different cultures. B. information is accepted as true because it has been proven correct by the scientific community. C. information is accepted as true because it has always been believed or because superstition supports it.

C. information is accepted as true because it has always been believed or because superstition supports it.

Which of the following is typical of quantitative research? A. It uses statistical analysis to summarize and interpret results. B. It involves measuring variables for each individual. C. All of the above. D. It usually involves numerical scores.

C.All of the above.

A hypothesis is a __________ statement and a prediction is a __________ statement. A. specific; specific B. general; general C. specific; general D. general; specific

D. general; specific