Epistemology and Scientific Inquiry Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does the term 'epistemology' refer to?

  • The study of the nature of knowledge (correct)
  • The study of how to reason logically
  • The study of the human mind and its processes
  • The study of the universe and its origins

What are the two main components of scientific inquiry, as described in the text?

  • Theorizing and Conclusion
  • Observation and Conclusion
  • Hypothesizing and Experimentation (correct)
  • Observation and Experimentation

Which of the following philosophers is NOT mentioned in the text as having a three-stage approach to scientific inquiry?

  • Descartes (correct)
  • Locke
  • Hume
  • Kant

What are the three stages of scientific inquiry?

<p>Hypothesis, Argumentation, Conclusion (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between knowledge and belief, as discussed in the text?

<p>Knowledge is based on evidence, while belief is based on faith. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a key question explored in epistemology, as presented in the text?

<p>What is the best method for conducting research? (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of skepticism in the scientific process?

<p>Skepticism helps to identify and challenge flawed assumptions and biases. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a word mentioned in the text as a key concept in understanding epistemology?

<p>Empathy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Pierce, what is the best way to describe scientific knowledge?

<p>Substantially certain (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Popper's 'falsifiability' principle suggest about a hypothesis?

<p>It must be capable of being proven false. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between Pierce's and Popper's views on scientific knowledge?

<p>Pierce sees scientific inquiry as a trial-and-error process, while Popper sees it as a process of 'severe critical examination'. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of the scientific process does Popper's approach emphasize?

<p>The rigorous testing of hypotheses. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Popper, what should happen if a hypothesis is falsified through repeated testing?

<p>It should be discarded and a new hypothesis formulated. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Popper's view of scientific inquiry?

<p>A process of conjecture and refutation, involving critical examination. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea of the 'fallibilistic approach' to the epistemology of scientific inquiry?

<p>Scientific knowledge is always provisional and subject to change. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Pierce's and Popper's views on the nature of scientific knowledge?

<p>Pierce emphasizes certainty in scientific knowledge, while Popper emphasizes the provisional nature of knowledge. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a core principle of scientific knowledge as outlined in the text?

<p>Scientific knowledge should be consistent with religious beliefs. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an 'anomaly' as it relates to scientific paradigms?

<p>A phenomenon that cannot be explained by existing scientific theories. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between 'normal science' and 'extraordinary science'?

<p>Normal science solves puzzles within established theories, while extraordinary science addresses anomalies that require new explanations. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the transition from the miasma theory to the germ theory of cholera illustrate a paradigm shift?

<p>It reflects a change in the fundamental understanding of the cause of cholera. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key implication of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study for scientific ethics and epistemology?

<p>It demonstrated the need for greater transparency and accountability in scientific research. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)?

<p>To ensure that all students have access to science education. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can the legacies of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study inform science educators' practice?

<p>By teaching students about the history of science and its ethical implications. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to understand the historical context of scientific paradigms?

<p>To understand the social and cultural influences on scientific development. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the central concept of 'normal science' as described in the text?

<p>Normal science operates within an established framework and seeks to solve puzzles within it. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant element of a 'paradigm shift' according to the text?

<p>A completely new paradigm emerges, challenging the existing one and gaining traction among the scientific community. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a value considered important within the scientific community, as mentioned in the text?

<p>Simplicity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Popper's philosophy of science, what is the key role of falsification?

<p>Falsification helps scientists identify and eliminate flawed theories, promoting scientific progress. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of a theory surviving numerous falsification attempts?

<p>It implies the theory is highly likely to be correct, but not definitively proven. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic does Popper attribute to scientists who engage in the scientific process?

<p>Scientists should be critical of their own theories and be willing to challenge them with evidence. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Kuhn's and Popper's perspectives on scientific progress?

<p>Kuhn sees scientific progress as driven by anomalies and paradigm shifts, while Popper emphasizes falsification. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of pseudoscience as described in the text?

<p>A theory that is based on personal anecdotes and lacks empirical evidence. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Epistemology

The study of knowledge, its nature, and how it is acquired.

Episteme

A Greek term meaning knowledge or understanding.

Logos

A Greek term meaning argument, reason, or facts.

Cognition

The mental process of acquiring knowledge through thought, experience, and senses.

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Intuition

The ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning.

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Belief vs Knowledge

Belief is subjective acceptance, while knowledge is justified true belief.

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Scientific Inquiry

A structured process of asking questions, forming hypotheses, and drawing conclusions.

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Reliability of Knowledge

The trustworthiness and dependability of knowledge sources.

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Fallibilism

The philosophical principle that all claims to knowledge could potentially be wrong.

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Principle of Falsifiability

A hypothesis must be able to be disproven to be scientific.

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Defeasible Concept of Knowledge

Knowledge is seen as subject to change based on new evidence or testing.

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Conjecture and Refutation

The process of suggesting hypotheses and then testing them rigorously.

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Critical Examination

A rigorous evaluation of hypotheses against evidence and competing ideas.

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Continuous Testing

The ongoing process of evaluating hypotheses to confirm or disprove them.

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Problem Formulation

The initial step in scientific inquiry where a specific question is developed.

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Paradigm Shift

A fundamental change in the underlying concepts of a scientific discipline.

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Normal Science

A period during which scientists work within an established paradigm, solving puzzles it presents.

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Anomalies

Unexpected phenomena or problems that contradict the current paradigm's expectations.

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Kuhn's Theory Acceptance

New theories must align with scientific community values to gain acceptance.

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Cycle of Conjecture and Refutation

The scientific process involves proposing bold ideas and rigorously testing them.

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Falsification

The principle that a theory must be testable and capable of being proven false.

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Pseudoscience

Theories that lack the ability to be falsified; not scientifically valid.

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Scientific Community Values

Standards such as accuracy, consistency, and explanatory power that guide scientific work.

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Extraordinary Science

Research addressing anomalies that existing paradigms cannot explain.

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Miasma Theory

The belief that diseases were caused by 'bad air.'

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Germ Theory

The theory that specific diseases are caused by microorganisms.

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Empirical Evidence

Knowledge gained through observation and experimentation.

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Science is Open to Revision

Scientific knowledge can change as new evidence emerges.

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Tuskegee Experiment

An unethical study on untreated syphilis in African American men.

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Study Notes

Epistemology

  • Epistemology is the study of knowledge and knowing.
  • It stems from the Greek words "episteme" (knowledge/understanding) and "logos" (argument/reason/facts).
  • Key questions in epistemology include: what is knowledge?, what do we mean when we say we know something?, what is the source of knowledge and how reliable is it?, and what are the limitations and scope of knowledge?
  • Other key concepts include belief, justification, and truth.

Order of Things

  • The scientific process follows a particular order: theorizing, hypothesizing, observation, experimentation, gathering of evidence and conclusion.
  • Scientific inquiry is based on knowledge (with inherent limitations)

Philosophical Approaches to the Scientific Process

  • Three key philosophers are discussed in the presented material along with the following concepts
  • Charles Sanders Peirce's realistic view where scientific inquiry is finite, somewhat tentative, and can not be certain.
  • Karl Popper's falsification principle which suggests that hypotheses must be disprovable and have survived disproving.
  • Thomas Kuhn's concept of paradigms, highlighting normal science, anomalies, and paradigm shifts

Additional Concepts

  • Epistemic trust in science
  • Marginalized communities and trust
  • The Tuskegee Experiment
  • What can science educators do?
  • Possible legacies of the Tuskegee Experiment
  • Reflections

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Epistemology of Science Lecture 4.1 PDF

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