Filters
Question type
Study Flashcards

A natural scientist asks, "What do these unexpected sparkles of light clustered here by this bolder on this photograph of the surface of Mars mean? Which critical thinking skill does this question manifest?


A) Inference
B) Interpretation
C) Evaluation
D) Self-Regulation

E) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

Scientific theories which suggest new directions and new hypotheses for research that go beyond a restatement of initial findings and theories that potentially enable investigators to strengthen explanations and make well-founded predictions about the patterns evident in natural phenomena as ___________________.

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

Which factor are natural scientists focusing on when they ask "Why?" questions?


A) Causal relationships
B) Personal motivations
C) Evolutionary goals
D) Vested economic interests
E) Divine purposes

F) A) and D)
G) C) and D)

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

Organizations with particular economic or political interests often fund natural science research. Is it reasonable, therefore, to say that the research cannot be trusted because the organization that funded the research had a vested interest in X, whatever policy, economic result, or interest X might be?

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

It is not the natural scientist's job to...

View Answer

What name do we give to the systematic empirical inquiry into the causal explanations for the observed patterns, structures, and functions of natural phenomena from the subatomic to the galactic in scope?


A) Philosophy
B) Communication
C) Management Information Systems
D) Social Science
E) Natural Science

F) B) and E)
G) A) and B)

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

A natural science research team identifies all the ways that the data being gathered might be discounted as irrelevant or as misleading, and then take steps to guard against the these problems with data collection occurring. This represents which step in the scientific investigation?


A) Design a procedure to ensure that the data gathered will reveal the full range of possible observations.
B) Conduct the study or the experiment and gather the data.
C) Critique the findings.
D) Identify all the factors related to the hypothesis and the phenomenon of interest that it will be important to measure, control, or monitor.

E) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

Since scientific findings are relevant to the development of governmental policy, why should policy recommendations come after the findings are produced?

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

It is intellectually dishonest to start ...

View Answer

Which of the following is a natural science question?


A) Should our state decriminalize casino gambling and off-track betting?
B) Ought parents to permit their teenage children to gamble online?
C) Is it morally acceptable for a wealthy family to lose thousands gambling at resort casinos?
D) What motivates people to engage in these different forms of gambling: lottery, casino, and online?
E) Can we design encryption and firewall systems which ensure that the state's online lottery servers will be protected from computer hacking?

F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

Solid scientific findings that are not consistent with prevailing theories are characterized as?


A) Metaphysics
B) Anomalous
C) Nonsense
D) Subjective
E) Mistaken

F) C) and D)
G) A) and C)

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

Natural science is self-corrective and open to independent replication and evaluation. Nevertheless, the critical thinking skill of self-regulation cannot help self-monitor and self-correct for which of the following?


A) Biased thinking, erroneous snap judgments, and misapplication of cognitive heuristics.
B) Initially interpreting an observed phenomenon or test result with an insufficient attention to detail.
C) False positives (finding what is not there) and false negatives (not finding what is there) in the results.
D) Failure to take into account all of the factors which influence the phenomenon under investigation.
E) Social media reactions by people who may be offended, upset, or angry with the findings.

F) C) and E)
G) A) and E)

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

When a natural scientist asks a "Why?" question the scientist is seeking an explanation that is the fruit of empirical reasoning applied to a potentially _______________ hypothesis about the causal factors that produce the phenomenon or pattern of events.

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

Good scientific investigators always start with a ______________. They use their critical thinking skills to decide what kinds of evidence and methods would be most relevant. They then proceed in a fair-minded, systematic, and accurate way.


A) question
B) point of view
C) hypothesis
D) budget
E) ax to grind

F) B) and D)
G) All of the above

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

Taking "global warming" as an example, how would a natural science research team frame a research question that does not call for a policy position, or for a dogmatic and confrontational debate, or for finger-pointing and blaming.

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

How can we explain scientifica...

View Answer

What is the common theme running through all the natural science fields, disciplines, and professions?

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

These scientists and professionals are c...

View Answer

Natural science research is best described as the scientific study of ______________.


A) all natural phenomena and their causes
B) ideals and principles that guide human behavior
C) semantic structure of language that supports valid inference
D) divinely inspired spiritual teachings and moral guidance of sages
E) human society and interpersonal relationships

F) B) and C)
G) None of the above

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

A natural science research team presented arguments explaining which factors it regards as relevant and exactly why each of the factors is potentially relevant to the hypothesis being investigated. This explanation represents which step in the scientific investigation?


A) Design a procedure to ensure that the data gathered will reveal the full range of possible observations.
B) Conduct the study or the experiment and gather the data.
C) Critique the findings.
D) Identify all the factors related to the hypothesis and the phenomenon of interest that it will be important to measure, control, or monitor.

E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

If the arguments presented are sound, then the conclusions reached by natural scientists correctly using empirical research methods and appropriately analyses can be described as ______________.


A) tautological
B) valid
C) warranted
D) questionable
E) absurd

F) A) and D)
G) B) and D)

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

What is the scientific standard called "testability" that is applied to the evaluation of scientific theories?

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

Testability is the criterion of scientif...

View Answer

A natural science research team identifies and describes the limitations of the completed study. Identify and describe any limitations of the completed study. The team goes on to describe how these might be handled in a future study and why the additional research would be valuable in its own right. This represents which step in the scientific investigation?


A) Design a procedure to ensure that the data gathered will reveal the full range of possible observations.
B) Conduct the study or the experiment and gather the data.
C) Critique the findings.
D) Identify all the factors related to the hypothesis and the phenomenon of interest that it will be important to measure, control, or monitor.

E) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

Which factor are natural scientists focusing on when they make predictions about natural phenomena?


A) How to impress their colleagues.
B) How to prevent or bring the phenomena about.
C) How to get funding for future research.
D) How to provoke religious terrorists.

E) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Correct Answer

verifed

verified

Showing 21 - 40 of 40

Related Exams

Exam 1

The Power of Critical Thinking

50 Questions

Exam 2

Critical Thinking Mindset and Skills

44 Questions

Exam 3

Solve Problems and Succeed in College

35 Questions

Exam 4

Clarify Ideas and Concepts

39 Questions

Exam 5

Analyze Arguments and Diagram Decisions

36 Questions

Exam 6

Evaluate the Credibility of Claims and Sources

41 Questions

Exam 7

Evaluate Arguments: Four Basic Tests

40 Questions

Exam 8

Valid Inferences

40 Questions

Exam 9

Warranted Inferences

40 Questions

Exam 10

Snap Judgments:risks and Benefits of Heuristic Thinking

43 Questions

Exam 11

Reflective Decision Making

40 Questions

Exam 12

Comparative Reasoning

40 Questions

Exam 13

Ideological Reasoning

40 Questions

Exam 14

Empirical Reasoning

40 Questions

Exam 15

Write Sound and Effective Arguments

40 Questions

Exam 16

Ethical Decision Making

39 Questions

Exam 17

The Logic of Declarative Statements

40 Questions

Exam 18

Critical Thinking in the Social Sciences

40 Questions

Show Answer