Chapter 1: Skeptical Thinking Flashcards
(116 cards)
1
Q
What is skepticism?
A
Addresses non-scientific claims with questions, not denial
Can be used alongside close active reading to identify knowns, unknowns, research focuses, and client questions.
2
Q
Define correlation.
A
Two variables that appear to change with each other.
3
Q
What is a dichotomy?
A
Two-sided idea organizing an idea into two opposing sides.
4
Q
Who is a cynic?
A
Someone with a generally negative view of the world and unwilling to accept new ideas.
5
Q
What is skeptical thinking?
A
Process of questioning information.
6
Q
Define fallacy.
A
Invalid argument.
7
Q
What is systematic doubt?
A
Not accepting an idea as valid until testing and retesting it.
8
Q
What does it mean to triangulate?
A
Using two or more sources that support the original source for credibility.
9
Q
What are the principles of engineering design
A
- Choice [How will you define the problem and engage stakeholder, the client, service environment, teaching team, and your team]
- Decisions → [ How will you evaluate the multiple ways your design can proceed, and the consequences of each]
- Transformations → [How will your design impact your client and stakeholders’ lived experiences]
10
Q
What is a fixed duration in project management?
A
A set period during which a task or activity is scheduled to occur, regardless of any variations in work hours or resources applied to it.
11
Q
Define duration in the context of project management.
A
The total amount of working time required to complete a task. This does not include elapsed time, such as waiting for materials to arrive or concrete to cur
12
Q
What is effort-driven duration?
A
Duration determined by the amount of effort required to complete a task.
13
Q
What is elapsed time?
A
Total calendar time that passes from the start to the finish of a task, including breaks.
14
Q
Define man hours.
A
Amount of work done by the average worker in one hour.
15
Q
What is time to completion?
A
This is the total time required to complete a task or project from start to finish. It takes into account ALL aspects of the work including the actual labour performed (effort), the calendar time (elapsed time)
add ELAPSED TIME + EFFORT → calender time + effort hours
16
Q
What does ‘Go or No Go’ mean?
A
Decision to continue with or abandon a course of action.
17
Q
Define factor safety.
A
How much stronger a system is than needed for an intended load.
The load carrying capacity of a system beyond what it actually support
18
Q
What is an order of magnitude?
A
An estimation that is a multiple of 10.
give snapshot to make early decisions without the finer details
19
Q
What is project management?
A
Process of guiding a team’s work to achieve project goals within constraints.
planning, initiating, executing, controlling, and closing the work
20
Q
What is a milestone in project management?
A
Significant event signifying the completion of a work phase.
21
Q
What is a Gantt Chart?
A
Visual chart outlining the start and finish dates of tasks within a project.
useful for planning and tracking progress.
22
Q
Define resources in project management.
A
Various inputs required for project execution
such as time, money, personnel, materials, knowledge, and skills.
23
Q
What are consumables?
A
Materials or supplies expended during a project.
include office supplies, raw materials, fuel, etc.
24
Q
What is a project plan?
A
Formal document guiding project execution and control.
the steps for defining, preparing, integrating, and coordinating tasks
25
What does levelling mean in project management?
Rearranging tasks to ensure no resource is over-committed.
| and tasks are equally distributed
26
Define critical path.
Longest path in time from start to finish, indicating minimum time necessary to complete the project.
| (no slack for any tasks on this path)
27
What is slack in project management?
Amount of time a task can go overtime before delaying the project.
28
What is audience assessment?
Understanding factors that influence communication.Ex.Age, gender, education, cultural background, Knowledge leve with the topic,
Interests and priorities,
Communication style preferences and
Goals and expectations
| Who are you communicating to and What you want to get out of a meeting
29
What is an agenda in a client meeting?
A brief outline of topics to be discussed.
| Communicated in advance.
30
What are closed questions?
Questions designed to get very precise information.
| often clarfiying questions
31
What are open questions?
Questions used to explore a topic and get the client talking.
| usually begin with what,why, describe
32
What influences communication?
Body language, tone, and words.
33
What are action items?
Next tasks or actions the team will undertake, stated at the end of a meeting.
34
What is active listening?
Taking notes and asking clarifying questions while someone is speaking.
| attention to body language
35
Define accuracy in the context of estimation.
Making measurements good enough with good approximations.
| how close an estimated value is to the actual or true value
36
What are the three types of estimates?
* Back of the envelope-Very quick rough approximate answers. Based on info already known or easily found.
* Order of magnitude- Estimate that is within a factor of 10 to the true answer
* Ballpark- Slang for an estimate that is approximately correct.
37
Break
38
Define protocols in workplace safety.
Step-by-step safety plans guiding employees through workplace procedures.
39
What are regulations?
Rules or directives made and maintained by an authority.
40
What are industry standards?
A set of criteria widely accepted within an industry relating to the standard functioning and carrying out of operations
41
What does it mean to be liable?
Being responsible by law; legally answerable.
42
Define hazard.
Situation where there is the possibility of damage to health, property, or environment.
43
What is an accident?
Unintentional exposure to a hazard.
44
Define severity in workplace safety.
The seriousness of injuries and illnesses within an organization.
45
What is risk?
Risk = (severity + cost of consequences) x (probability of exposure).
46
What is acceptable risk?
Risks judged to be acceptable.
47
What are codes in workplace safety?
Guidance to help employers and workers meet safety standards.
48
Define biologically active materials.
Materials designed to induce specific biological activity.
| these materials can promote healing, regeneration, or within the body
49
What are toxic materials?
Substances that can be poisonous or have health effects.
50
What is a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?
Document providing product information and safety measures.
51
What is universal design?
Design that anyone can understand, regardless of language or disability.
52
Define carcinogenic.
Has the potential to cause cancer.
53
What is design for accessibility?
Design principles ensuring accessibility for all users.
54
What is a webinar?
Virtual meeting.
55
break
56
What is a take-away from a presentation?
Message and impression the audience should leave with.
57
What is an objective metric?
Demonstrates the objective is measurable
Solution independent.
Allows for comparisons of multiple designs.
58
What are the three categories of evidence?
Estimation - quick calculation of an indicator of merits of a design
Modelling - numerical model to verify design (might utilise commercial software)
Prototyping - One off example of the design.
59
What is estimation in engineering?
Utilizing information or methods that may be vague or incomplete.
60
What are estimation strategies?
* Analogous
* Top-Down
* Bottom-Up
61
What is the Design Review Gateway (DRG)?
System in which claims are organized into an argument.
62
Define conflict in teams.
Arises through absence, avoidance, or attacks; healthy conflict encourages curiosity.
63
What is the Hear Communication Model?
* Honesty
* Empathy
* Autonomy
* Reflection
64
What is reverse engineering?
Learning how others accomplish things to integrate into your project.
65
What is copyright?
Right to copy, distribute, and protect forms of expression.
66
What is a patent?
Protects an idea by granting the right to exclude others from making or using it.
67
Define trade secret.
A secret about how a project is designed, with no protection if discovered.
68
What are the benefits of reverse engineering?
* No permission needed
* Helps with benchmarking
* Optimizes products
69
List the steps in reverse engineering.
* Define the design
* Make operational observations
* Methodical disassembly and documentation
* Reassemble and test
70
What is visualization in engineering communication?
Using graphics and images to convey points.
71
Define schematic drawings.
Decide on the level of detail needed for the audience and function.
72
What is a process flow diagram?
Simplified symbols representing key items for a process.
73
What is a P&ID?
Detailed symbols depending on the audience.
74
What are mechanical/construction diagrams?
Detailed drawings used in engineering contexts.
75
What is visualisation in engineering communication?
The use of graphics and images to get a point across.
76
What are schematic drawings used for?
To decide on the level of detail needed for the audience and function.
77
What is a process flow diagram?
A simplified representation using symbols to depict key items for a process.
78
What does P&ID stand for?
Piping and Instrumentation Diagram.
79
What is the purpose of mechanical/construction diagrams?
To provide precise, detailed drawings based on standards/rules for manufacturing and construction.
80
What does an assembly drawing identify?
Each part of a design and its operating position, including the Bill of Materials (BOM).
81
What is an isometric drawing?
A 2D representation of a 3D object where lines for each axis are parallel.
82
What is orthographic projection/multiview drawing?
A method involving visualisation and implementation to draw objects, forming principal views.
83
What does DFX stand for?
Design for human factors, safety, and environment.
84
What are universal design principles?
Principles that include accessibility, flexibility in use, intuitive design, and supportive environments.
85
What is the definition of safety in key safety terms?
Protection from hazards.
86
What does risk analysis refer to?
A statistical tool for determining risk.
87
What is an acceptable risk?
Risks that are judged to be acceptable.
88
What is a hazard?
The potential for damage.
89
Fill in the blank: The _______ is the chance of a hazard being released.
Probability
90
What factors determine acceptable risk?
* Voluntary vs. Involuntary risk
* Duration of exposure
* Group vs. individual risk
91
What is the hierarchy of design for safety?
* Eliminate hazard
* Reduce probability
* Guard
* Train
92
What are practical design considerations for safety?
* Design to codes and standards
* Conventional materials/methods
* Build and test prototypes
* Design against human error
93
What does the CRAAP test stand for?
* Currency
* Relevance
* Authority
* Accuracy
* Purpose
94
What is a Gantt Chart used for?
To manage tasks involved in significant and complex projects.
95
What are milestones in project management?
Marks of how far you have come, indicating completion of major stages.
96
What is the critical path in project management?
The longest path where any delays will delay the project's finish date.
97
What is lead time?
The time a tasks overlaps (when a task can start before its predecessor finishes)
98
What is lag time?
The amount of waiting time between two tasks
99
What is slack time?
Time a task can be extended before it affects other tasks.
100
What do arrows in a Gantt Chart indicate?
Dependencies between tasks.
101
What does FS stand for in task dependencies?
Finish to start.
102
What does the Bill of Materials (BOM) include?
A detailed parts list of a design.
103
What is the AID model?
Action, Impact, Description, useful for peer evaluation.
104
What does a Life Cycle diagram represent?
The process from cradle to gate and cradle to grave.
105
What is the purpose of a Scoping Diagram?
To identify the scope of an engineering project using objectives and stakeholder information.
106
What is a problem statement supposed to identify?
What is missing from current solutions.
107
True or False: Being objective means having only one answer.
False.
108
What is eco-fiscal policy?
A government-issued policy to influence public purchasing decisions.government issued policy that instructs businesses to increase prices on things they don’t want to continue with and decrease prices on things they want to continue with to influence the public to make their decisions when purchasing such things
109
What should you check for when choosing the best answer?
Specificity.
110
Data Centric Presentation
Gives a great deal of detailed information (data) but not the context that makes the data meaniful
111
Patent Terms
Claims: Define the scope of protection provided by a patent, outlining the specific features of the invention that are being patented.
Skilled in the Art: Refers to a hypothetical person with ordinary knowledge and skills in the relevant technical field, used to assess whether an invention is obvious or inventive.
Inventive Step: The requirement that an invention must not be obvious to someone skilled in the art based on prior knowledge, ensuring the invention is novel and non-obvious.
Prior Art: Prior art refers to all publicly available knowledge, inventions, or materials that existed before a patent application, used to determine the novelty and originality of a new invention.
112
Figures can be...
Decorative Figures: Used purely for visual appeal or to enhance the design, without conveying technical information.
Illustrative Figures: Serve to visually explain or clarify concepts, processes, or systems, often aiding in understanding.
Informative Figures: Provide detailed, precise data or specifications, such as charts, graphs, or technical drawings, conveying essential engineering information.
Indicative Figures: Give a general indication or representation of an idea or component, often used for reference or to show the general layout or concept.
113
greenwashing
the deceptive practice of exaggerating or falsely claiming environmental benefits of a product or service to appear more eco-friendly than it actually is.
114
Technical design
the process of creating detailed plans, drawings, and specifications for a product or system, focusing on its functionality, performance, and feasibility. It involves translating conceptual ideas into practical, manufacturable, or implementable solutions, considering factors like materials, dimensions, safety, and efficiency.
115
Isometric Drawing
- 2d representation of a 3d object
- Gives a balanced view of 3 key sides without perspective distortion.
- principal axes seperated by 120 degrees
116
Orthographic Projection/Multiview Drawing
- projects a 2d object in 3 dimensional space
- accurate in dimension and measuremnt
