1.
Catherine, a scientist, has revised her hypothesis several
times throughout the investigation. What can be said about this situation?
A) It is indicative of the self-corrective nature of
empirical reasoning.
B) She is clearly not a good researcher.
C) She is definitely not an experienced scientist.
D) It is indicative of the fact that she is not using the
scientific process.
Correct Answer: A
2.
Which of the following statements about the peer review
process is true?
A) The review process is infallible.
B) Only quality research is used in the review process.
C) It is possible for poor research to be published.
D) The review process cannot be used by students.
Correct Answer: C
3.
When engaging in empirical reasoning, investigative inquiry
is
A) reserved for experts.
B) subject to ideology.
C) not permitted.
D) a community activity.
Correct Answer: D
4.
The empirical reasoning process begins with
A) conclusions based on personal associations with various
factors.
B) premises describing interpersonally verifiable
experiences.
C) reasons given in support of unverifiable premises.
D) arguments based on ideological components.
Correct Answer: B
5.
Jeremy has just formed a hypothesis that describes what we
can expect to happen under certain conditions. Which step in the scientific
investigation will he do next?
A) Identify all factors related to the hypothesis.
B) Identify a problem of significance.
C) Review scientific literature related to the hypothesis.
D) Assure that experimental conditions can be met.
Correct Answer: C
6.
Reid is a scientific researcher. Which of the following
statements about error in scientific inquiry is true?
A) It is possible that Reid could introduce error through a
conceptual mistake.
B) If Reid uses a lab setting, there is no way error could be
introduced.
C) Error is introduced into every investigation, no matter
who the researcher is.
D) If Reid is using the scientific process, it could take a
long time before the error is caught.
Correct Answer: A
7.
Kyle is a scientist. He insists that scientific investigation
is inductive, which means that
A) there are always two conclusions for each problem.
B) the first conclusion reached is the correct one.
C) the conclusions reached are probabilistic.
D) the comparisons made should be ideological in nature.
Correct Answer: C
8.
How would a scientist explain the purpose of empirical
investigation?
A) to come to a decision through careful comparisons between
factors
B) to generate new knowledge so we can explain and predict
future outcomes
C) to use heuristics to lead us to a well-reasoned conclusion
D) to allow ideologies to lead us to new scientific realities
Correct Answer: B
9.
Which of the following is a step in a scientific
investigation?
A) Neutralize all factors.
B) Choose one ideology to follow.
C) Reject the peer review.
D) Identify a problem of significance.
Correct Answer: D
10.
Joseph puts forth the following hypothesis: "If a plant
is not watered for three days, it will die." This hypothesis is phrased as
a
A) basic conclusion.
B) question.
C) general statement.
D) hypothetical.
Correct Answer: D
11.
Kurt is a scientist who frequently uses empirical reasoning.
He knows that
A) making accurate predictions depends on knowing how to
explain causes.
B) peer review is not as important as others make it out to
be.
C) the steps in the scientific process are frequently done
out of order.
D) errors never occur in empirical reasoning.
Correct Answer: A
12.
Aileen is teaching a critical thinking class. She explains to
her students that the trajectory of empirical reasoning is
A) top down.
B) bottom up.
C) sideways.
D) circular.
Correct Answer: B
13.
Which of the following is a characteristic of empirical
reasoning?
A) It is open to self-corrective reasoning.
B) It is based on overarching ideologies.
C) It typically leads nowhere.
D) It is circular in nature.
Correct Answer: A
14.
What is one of the advantages of creating specific conditions
in a lab?
A) Influences of extraneous factors can be reduced.
B) Ideological thinking thrives in this setting.
C) Heuristic thinkers are prone to distraction.
D) Deductive reasoning can be carefully controlled.
Correct Answer: A
15.
Mary is a strong critical thinker. She knows that
A) not all deductive reasoning is ideological.
B) all deductive reasoning is ideological.
C) all inductive reasoning is empirical.
D) not all inductive reasoning is empirical.
Correct Answer: D
Marjorie conducts her experiments in a highly controlled lab.
What is one of the possible effects of conducting an experiment in this type of
setting?
A) Extraneous factors cannot easily be reduced.
B) The scientific method loses its validity.
C) The generalizability of the findings may be weakened.
D) The researchers become biased.
Correct Answer: C
17.
As a scientist, Marcus knows that empirical reasoning has an
edge over comparative or ideological reasoning because
A) of its heuristic bent.
B) of its built-in capacity for self-monitoring.
C) of its ideological nature.
D) of its top-down reasoning.
Correct Answer: B
18.
Mason is a researcher who believes that his premises should
be accepted based on the fact that he has a Ph.D. in chemistry. What can be
said about this situation?
A) If he has a Ph.D., that must mean he is always correct.
B) He is ignoring the important step of independent
verification.
C) He respects the basic nature of empirical reasoning.
D) If he is a scientific researcher, he must be prone to
using heuristics.
Correct Answer: B
19.
Which of the following adjectives describes empirical
reasoning?
A) deductive
B) illogical
C) inductive
D) closed
Correct Answer: C
20.
Empirical reasoning is also called
A) reasoned thinking.
B) lateral thinking.
C) top down thinking.
D) bottom up thinking.
Correct Answer: D
