Acquiring Knowledge and The Scientific Method

Question 1

In the method of tenacity, why might someone believe something is true?

Answer 1

Their beliefs and superstitions support the information, believing it to be true

Question 2

How is information accepted as true in the method of intuition?

Answer 2

Based on a gut feeling or a hunch

Question 3

How might someone using the method of authority answer a question?

Answer 3

They would refer to ‘experts’ in a certain subject area, like teachers, books, doctors, the internet, etc.

Question 4

Which method is often the quickest and easiest way of finding information?

Answer 4

Method of Authority

Question 5

What is the name of the variant of the method of authority in which people have unwavering trust in an authority figure and accept all information from them without question?

Answer 5

Method of Faith

Question 6

How might we increase confidence in the information gained from an authority figure?

Answer 6

Evaluate the source of information and see if the information itself is reasonable

Question 7

What 2 methods are critical components of the scientific method?

Answer 7

1. Rational Method
2. Empirical Method

Question 8

In logical reasoning, what are the purpose of premise statements?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

In logical reasoning, what are a set of premise statements logically combined to become a conclusion called?

Answer 9

An argument

Question 10

True or False: The conclusion of a rational argument is always true if both of its premise statements are correct.

Answer 10

False

Question 11

What is the rational method?

Answer 11

The practice of employing reason as a source of knowledge

Question 12

What does the empirical viewpoint believe?

Answer 12

All knowledge is gained through the senses

Question 13

How does the empirical method work for gaining knowledge?

Answer 13

By observing and using direct sensory experiences

Question 14

True or False: Seeing is not always believing as our senses can be altered.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Why might the empirical method be unfavoured?

Answer 15

It’s very time consuming and potentially dangerous

Question 16

What is the scientific method?

Answer 16

A method of acquiring knowledge that uses the hypothesis to make logical and testable predictions.

Question 17

How does the scientific method often begin?

Answer 17

Casual, informal observations

Question 18

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 18

Reasoning that involves a relatively small set of specific observations that form a general statement of a larger set of possible observations

Question 19

What are characteristics or conditions that have different, changable values?

Answer 19

Variables

Question 20

What is a tentative answer that is intended to be tested and critically evaluated?

Answer 20

A hypothesis

Question 21

What is the difference between induction and deduction?

Answer 21

Induction - increase from specific few to general many
Deduction - decrease from general many to a specific few

Question 22

What are the 3 important principles of the scientific method?

Answer 22

1. Science is Empirical
2. Science is Public
3. Science is Objective

Question 23

What is pseudoscience?

Answer 23

A system of ideas that are often presented as science but lack key components that are essential to scientific research.

Question 24

What is quantitative research?

Answer 24

Research based on measuring variables for individual participants to obtain scores that are usually numerical.

Question 25

What is the difference between participants and subjects?

Answer 25

Participants - human
Subjects - non-human

Question 26

How is the scientific method research shaped like?

Answer 26

A circular process