Question 1

The tendency to believe claims because they seem true or because it would be nice if they were true is called

Accepted Answer

Uncritical acceptance is the tendency to believe in claims without questioning their validity or supporting evidence. This often occurs when people are very invested in a particular outcome or belief and are more likely to accept information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs. This can lead to biases and errors in judgment, particularly if the information being accepted is not actually true.

Question 2

Which of the following is one of the six elements of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

Publishing results is a key part of the scientific method as it allows for peer review and validation by the scientific community.

Question 3

If you are interested in whether gift recipients prefer gifts that they requested or gifts that were chosen for them, you will learn little by making haphazard observations of gift-giving at family birthday parties.To be of value, your observations must be planned and

Accepted Answer

Systematic observations are planned and structured in a way that allows for meaningful data collection and analysis. Haphazard observations would not provide reliable information, as they would not be methodical or intentional. Intuitive observations may be useful, but they are not as valuable as systematic observations because they are based on personal feelings and hunches rather than empirical evidence. Introspective observations are focused on one's own thoughts and emotions, rather than external phenomena, and would not be relevant to studying gift-giving preferences. Dynamic observations are related to changes and movements in a system, and may be useful in some contexts, but are not necessary for studying gift-giving preferences.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT one of the six elements of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

Intuitive analysis is not a part of the scientific method. The six elements include making observations, proposing a hypothesis, designing and conducting experiments, collecting and analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and communicating results. Theory building is a part of the scientific method, but it is not one of the initial six steps.

Question 5

Which of the following is a form of critical thinking based on a careful collection of evidence, accurate descriptions and measurements, precise definitions, controlled observations, and repeatable results?

Accepted Answer

The scientific method is a systematic approach to studying phenomena through the collection of evidence, accurate descriptions, and measurements, precise definitions, controlled observations, and repeatable results. Intuitive analysis involves relying on one's gut reactions or feelings rather than objective evidence, and the introspective method involves reflecting on one's own thoughts and feelings to gain insight. Theoretical projection involves making predictions based on theoretical models, which may or may not be supported by empirical evidence. Therefore, C is the only option that accurately describes the characteristics of critical thinking based on scientific methodology.

Question 6

Lindsay's friend answered a magazine ad that claimed that her personality could be analyzed by a computer using her birth sign.She tells Lindsay that her computer-generated profile was very accurate and that Lindsay should send in her money and her birthdate to the company.Lindsay should

Accepted Answer

Lindsay should consider that her friend may have been fooled due to uncritical acceptance and the confirmation bias. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that a computer could accurately analyze someone's personality traits based on their birth sign. Therefore, it is important to approach such claims with a critical mindset and avoid wasting money on pseudoscientific practices.

Question 7

Many television viewers are impressed by "psychic mediums" who pretend to communicate with the deceased friends and relatives of audience members.Typically, the viewers will remember the apparent "hits," or correct statements made by the "mediums," while ignoring the "misses," or incorrect statements.This tendency is referred to as

Accepted Answer

The tendency to remember hits and ignore misses when it comes to psychic mediums is an example of the confirmation bias. This bias occurs when people seek out information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses, and ignore information that contradicts them. In the case of psychic mediums, viewers may have a belief in the existence of an afterlife, or a desire to communicate with deceased loved ones, which leads them to selectively remember only the apparent hits and disregard the misses.

Question 8

Unlike psychology, superstitions change little over time because their followers succumb to

Accepted Answer

Superstitions are beliefs and behaviors that are not based on evidence or rationality, but rather on tradition and cultural influence. Followers of superstitions often engage in uncritical acceptance and confirmation bias, meaning that they accept information that confirms their beliefs and ignore information that contradicts them. This leads to little change in superstitions over time, as followers are resistant to adopting new information or ideas. Psychology, on the other hand, is a scientific field that evolves based on empirical evidence and the testing of theories through falsification.

Question 9

In a comparison of pseudosciences and valid scientific principles, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

This statement is false as pseudosciences and superstitions can actually be harmful if people rely on them instead of seeking evidence-based treatments or advice.

Question 10

Which of the following is similar to "cherry picking"evidence and arguments to support your own beliefs, can occur unconsciously, and ultimately prevents you from confronting your mistaken beliefs?

Accepted Answer

The confirmation bias refers to the tendency to selectively seek out and interpret information in a way that supports preexisting beliefs, while ignoring or dismissing evidence that contradicts those beliefs. This bias can occur unconsciously and prevent individuals from confronting their mistaken beliefs. "Cherry picking" evidence is one manifestation of the confirmation bias. A and D are unrelated to the concept described. Introspection may be used to identify and correct biases, but it is not synonymous with the confirmation bias.

Question 11

Systems, such as astrology and graphology, enjoy wide popularity because of their

Accepted Answer

Systems like astrology and graphology are not based on scientific evidence and rely on subjective interpretations, leading to uncritical acceptance among believers. They do not have a high level of accuracy in predicting behavior and can often be expensive.

Question 12

Sid believes his dreams forecast the future.He describes all the dreams that came true in the last month.His friend Joey asks him about all the times his dreams did not come true.Sid's tendency to remember the times his dreams came true and forget the times they did not is known as

Accepted Answer

Sid's tendency to remember the times his dreams came true and forget the times they did not is an example of the confirmation bias. This is the tendency to seek out and remember information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs and attitudes, while ignoring or dismissing information that contradicts them.

Question 13

When people read their horoscopes, they often believe these flattering descriptions of themselves, a tendency referred to as

Accepted Answer

The answer of When people read their horoscopes, they often...

Question 14

Even when an astrological description contains a mixture of good and bad traits, it may seem accurate because the person remembers or notices the parts of the description that backs up his or her expectations and forgets or ignores the discrepancies.This illustrates

Accepted Answer

The given scenario describes the confirmation bias, which is the tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions or expectations. This often leads individuals to remember or focus on information that confirms their beliefs while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts their beliefs.

Question 15

The deliberate picking of evidence and arguments to support one's own beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence or arguments is sometimes referred to as

Accepted Answer

"Cherry picking" refers specifically to the act of selectively choosing evidence or data that supports one's own beliefs or arguments while ignoring contradictory evidence or data.

Question 16

To be scientific, our observations must be

Accepted Answer

Scientific observations must be systematic, meaning they are made in a planned and organized way to ensure accuracy and reliability. Intuitive and haphazard observations may not be repeatable or representative of the larger population, and observations related to common sense may be biased or based on preconceived notions.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT one of the six elements of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

Consensus review is not one of the six elements of the scientific method. The six elements are defining a problem, forming a hypothesis, gathering evidence, analyzing the evidence, drawing conclusions, and communicating the results. Publishing results is a part of communicating the results.

Question 18

The scientific method is NOT based on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The scientific method is based on empirical evidence, which is collected through observation, measurement, and experimentation. Theories are developed based on the evidence, not on theoretical projections or intuition. Therefore, D is the correct answer because theoretical projection and intuitive analysis are not part of the scientific method.

Question 19

An elderly lady is greatly impressed by an astrologer who describes her as physically vigorous, innovative, and artistically creative.Her reaction to this flattering description is an example of

Accepted Answer

The elderly lady's reaction of being greatly impressed by the astrologer's flattering description of her physical, creative and innovative abilities as described in the question is an example of uncritical acceptance. This means that she accepted the astrologer's statements without using any critical thinking or analysis; she simply took them at face value because the statements made her feel good about herself.

Question 20

When a person remembers or notices only things that back up his or her expectations and forgets or ignores discrepancies, he or she is experiencing

Accepted Answer

The given scenario describes the confirmation bias, where a person tends to seek out and remember information that supports their pre-existing beliefs or expectations, while ignoring or forgetting information that contradicts them. The Barnum Effect refers to the tendency to believe vague or general descriptions that could apply to anyone, while the introspective dilemma and uncritical acceptance are not relevant to the given scenario.

Quiz 1: Psychology, Critical Thinking, and Science

The tendency to believe claims because they seem true or because it would be nice if they were true is called

Which of the following is one of the six elements of the scientific method?

If you are interested in whether gift recipients prefer gifts that they requested or gifts that were chosen for them, you will learn little by making haphazard observations of gift-giving at family birthday parties.To be of value, your observations must be planned and

Which of the following is NOT one of the six elements of the scientific method?

Which of the following is a form of critical thinking based on a careful collection of evidence, accurate descriptions and measurements, precise definitions, controlled observations, and repeatable results?

Lindsay's friend answered a magazine ad that claimed that her personality could be analyzed by a computer using her birth sign.She tells Lindsay that her computer-generated profile was very accurate and that Lindsay should send in her money and her birthdate to the company.Lindsay should

Unlike psychology, superstitions change little over time because their followers succumb to

In a comparison of pseudosciences and valid scientific principles, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Which of the following is similar to "cherry picking"evidence and arguments to support your own beliefs, can occur unconsciously, and ultimately prevents you from confronting your mistaken beliefs?

Systems, such as astrology and graphology, enjoy wide popularity because of their

Sid believes his dreams forecast the future.He describes all the dreams that came true in the last month.His friend Joey asks him about all the times his dreams did not come true.Sid's tendency to remember the times his dreams came true and forget the times they did not is known as

When people read their horoscopes, they often believe these flattering descriptions of themselves, a tendency referred to as

Even when an astrological description contains a mixture of good and bad traits, it may seem accurate because the person remembers or notices the parts of the description that backs up his or her expectations and forgets or ignores the discrepancies.This illustrates

The deliberate picking of evidence and arguments to support one's own beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence or arguments is sometimes referred to as

To be scientific, our observations must be

Which of the following is NOT one of the six elements of the scientific method?

The scientific method is NOT based on which of the following?

An elderly lady is greatly impressed by an astrologer who describes her as physically vigorous, innovative, and artistically creative.Her reaction to this flattering description is an example of

When a person remembers or notices only things that back up his or her expectations and forgets or ignores discrepancies, he or she is experiencing