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Question 1

What is epistemology?

Answer 1

The study of knowledge (methods, validity, scope, belief vs opinion)

Question 2

What are the kinds of knowledge?

Answer 2

Personal experience
Common sense
Expert Opinion
Popular message
Idealogical belief
Systematic Study and Research

Question 3

Neuman (2011) - 4 methods of aquiring knowledge

Answer 3

• Personal experience and common sense
• Experts or authorities
• Peers and media
• Idealogical beliefs and values

Question 4

Scientific approach characterised by:

Answer 4

• Clearly defined constructs and observed phenomena
• Theory driven questions and hypotheses
• Falsifiable hypotheses/prediciton
• Valid measurement of constructs and observed phenomena
• Reproducible design, measuer and results
• Peer review and consense

Question 5

Non-scientific approach characterised by:

Answer 5

Overgeneralisation
Selective observation
Premature closeure
Halo effect
False consensus
Pseudoscience
Junk Science 
Pop science

Question 6

What is science

Answer 6

Observation –> generate theory –> prediction

Question 7

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 7

Specific observations to make generalisations

Question 8

What is the problem with induction (Carl Popper)

Answer 8

Turkey story, thinks farmer is friend until the day they are slaughtered for thanksgiving

Question 9

What are theories

Answer 9

Sets of ideas based on prior observations that aims to explain and predict phenomena
*They are risky and testable (falsifiable)

Question 10

Issue with pseudoscience

Answer 10

Does not update its theories (or hypothese) in the face of disconfirming observations (think astrology)

Question 11

What is a hypothese

Answer 11

Plausable, testable claim that does not yet have enough evidence to conside its acceptance or rejection

Question 12

What is social theory

Answer 12

A system of interconnect ideas that condense and organises the knowledge about the social world and explains how it works

Question 13

What is data

Answer 13

Numerical (quantitative) and non-numerical (qualitative) information and evidence that have been carefully gather according to rules or established procedures

Question 14

Empirical

Answer 14

Description of what we can observe and experience directly through human sense, or indirectly using techniques that extend the senses

Question 15

What is pseudoscience

Answer 15

Ideas or information clothed in the jargon and outward appearance of sciecne that seeks to win acceptance but that was not created with the systematic rigoor or standards required of the scientific method

Question 16

What is junk science

Answer 16

A public relations term used to critise scientific research even if it is conducted properly that produces findings that an advocacy group opposes

Question 17

What is innumeracy

Answer 17

The lack of quantitative literacty, not having an ability to reason with numbers and other mathemmatical concepts

Question 18

Scientific literacy

Answer 18

The capacity to unersand and apply sicentific knowledge, concepts, principles, and theories to solve problems and make decisions based on scientific reasoning and to interact in a way that reflects the core values of the scientific communitiy

Question 19

What is scientific community

Answer 19

A collection of people who share a system of attitides, beliefs, and rules that sustains the production and advance of scientific knowledge

Question 20

Norms of the scientific comminity

Answer 20

Informal rules, principles, and values that govern the way scientists conduct their research

Question 21

What is universalism

Answer 21

Regardless of who conducts the research, it is to be judges only on the basis of scientific merit

Question 22

Organised skepticism

Answer 22

Ideas or evidence should not be accepted in a carefree, uncritical manner. They should challenge and question all evidence with intense scutiny

Question 23

Disinterestedness

Answer 23

Neutral, impartial, receptive and open to unexpected observations and new ideas

Question 24

Communalism

Answer 24

Scientific knowledge must be shared wih others. Its a public act, and findings are public knowledge

Question 25

Honest

Answer 25

This is a general cultural noem, but stronger in science. Scientists demand honesty in all research