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True or false: People are really pretty good at judging the odds of events False TERM 2 Vincent loved gambling especially gambling that involved rolling dice or flipping coins. During one of his gambling games, he had to place a bet based on whether he though the next toss of a coin was going to land heads or tails. The previous three tosses had landed on heads and so he placed his bet on tails. He said, the odds are now greater that it will land tails because the last three were heads. Vincent was: DEFINITION 2 Mistaken in his reasoning because the previous tosses of the coins have no effect on subsequent tosses. The odds were still 50-50 for either a head or a tail. TERM 3 What were key ideas that Schick was trying ton convey in Chapter 5? DEFINITION 3 Eyewitness testimony is often no reliable and, in addition, we cant accept something as being true just because someone claims strongly that it is All of us can make mistakes in out reasoning and can misperceive things because of limits to perception and memory All of us have biases that can adversely affect our ability to draw correct conclusions especially if dont try to consciously deal with them We have to consciously try to avoid making errors in our reasoning if we want to know the truth about something. TERM 4 B.J. acknowledged that he was racist and was even proud of the fact. But, he claimed he was racist because the evidence clearly showed that he was correct. He said he had conducted extensive research on the issue by visiting numerous websites all of which were committed to the idea that some races were superior to others. He had read books with the same theme all of which cited only anecdotal evidence to support their claims. He had never read anything with a view opposed to his own. And, whenever Tom was told things that contradicted his claims, he ignored them. he said they werent relevant that they were just anomalies. But, whenever an event occurred that supported his views, he was quick to cite it as proof of his beliefs. Toms selective use of information in this manner is an example of: DEFINITION 4 An example of confirmation bias. TERM 5 According to research cited by Schick, what provides the most convincing evidence of paranormal phenomena for most people? DEFINITION 5 Our own personal experiences
True or False: Emily watched a TV show about a haunted house. According to the former occupants of the house, the lights would go on and off by themselves, they would hear strange sounds in the house, and one of them was scratched by an unseen entity. The people seemed very sincere. Given their sincerity, and the fact that it was on TV, we have very strong reasons for believing their claims. False TERM 7 Eyewitness testimony, especially those regarding unusual event that people have experienced, is often: DEFINITION 7 Unreliable because people misinterpret events, especially when excited TERM 8 True or False: Once people have an explanation that seems to make sense to them they usually stop looking for alternative explanations that might contradict their belief DEFINITION 8 True TERM 9 True or False: Our minds construct an image of reality they do not record an image off reality and the construction process is not perfect DEFINITION 9 True TERM 10 Our perception that our dreams are sometimes prophetic may result from: DEFINITION 10 Selective recall
Which of the following is true regarding the story of Virginia Tighe, wo claimed to be the reincarnation of an Irish woman named Bridie Murphy? The street that she claimed to have lived on could not be found Her memories were probably an example of crytomnesia Her neighbor, when she was a child told her stories about Ireland The stories she said her husband had published could not be found TERM 17 When Tom went in to have his wisdom teeth removed, he kept thinking about his grandfathers story of how much pain he had experienced 50 years ago when hed had his wisdom teeth ripped out. The anesthetic hadnt worked well and his grandfathers tooth broke during the extraction further adding to his pain. With these thought in mind, Tom, who had enver had any problems with dental procedures before, experienced an inordinate amount of pain both during and after his teeth were removed. The dentist said that there was no medical basis for this given that everything went very well, but he suggested Tom take some prescription pain killers anyways. In the context of the discussion in Schicks text, it is very likely that the explanation for Toms pain was DEFINITION 17 Toms psychological expectation TERM 18 Jose grew up his entire life in Chicago. On his first trip to the country, Jose saw a bright light move across the sky, changing color and emitting sparks. Having never seen the night sky, and having never seen anything like the phenomenon he had just witnessed, he concluded that it was a UFO that had lost control and was burning up in the atmosphere. This conclusion is DEFINITION 18 Based on an appeal to ignorance (i.e., what else could it be?) TERM 19 True or False: Nostradamus made many predictions involving specific dates and several of them have come true on those dates. DEFINITION 19 False TERM 20 Dennis refused to go bungee jumping because he remembered one case in which a boy hit the ground because the wrong bungee cord one that was too long had been mistakenly used. Based on this accident, he concluded that bungee jumping was incredibly dangerous. This is an example of: DEFINITION 20 The availability error/ selective recall
Jack swore that the park bench he and his family had used for a picnic was brown because he thought all park benches in national parks were painted brown; but when he saw a photograph of the bench taken during the picnic, he was stunned to see it was actually white. Jack was the victim of a Perceptual constancy TERM 22 Because of the way our brains work; DEFINITION 22 We always make mistakes in interpreting unusual events Man natural experiences may seem to be supernatural in nature Seemingly weird things will happen to us even thought they arent really paranormal TERM 23 We have good reason to doubt a supernatural explanation for an unusual event if: DEFINITION 23 The claim contradicts laws of nature and previous experience Our brain could have misperceived what occurred given the circumstances in which the event occurred The experience was not witnessed by others (i.e., it is not corroborated) TERM 24 After viewing a video showing a car accidnent, one group of people was asked how fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other while a second group was asked how fast were the cars going when they hit each other? which of the following statements are true regarding the results of this experiment? DEFINITION 24 The responses of the two groups depended on the wording of the question, showing that our memories can be influenced by seemingly trivial events. TERM 25 The apparent success of many types of alleged psychic phenomenon, such as palm reading and fortune telling, can be attributed to: DEFINITION 25 The Forer effect
True or False: People have demonstrated the ability to make crop circles some of which were later claimed by crop circle investigators to have been made by aliens True TERM 32 Jessica was asked by her friend if she thought the market would go up the next day. Given that Jessica did not follow the market, she chuckled and said, Sure, why not. I think it will go up. The next day, the market did, in fact, go up. This does not mean that Jessica had knowledge that the market was going to go up. DEFINITION 32 (No) Jessica had no logical basis for claiming that the market would go up. TERM 33 Which of the following could be sources of knowledge according to Schick? DEFINITION 33 Introspection regarding our dispositions (emotions); i.e., thinking about our feelings and experiences Sensory knowledge (based on what we hear, see taste, smell and touch) reason/logic TERM 34 True or False: A guess that is correct can be considered a form of knowledge because it was correct DEFINITION 34 False TERM 35 According to Bertrand Russell, deciding to believe a proposition only when there is evidence to support it would DEFINITION 35 Eliminate a lot of suffering the world
What part of a sheeps body did the Babylonians use to try to predict the future? Liver TERM 37 True or False: According to Schick and the lecture material, sources of knowledge are perfect, i.e., they are infallible. DEFINITION 37 False TERM 38 Lets connect our reading on mysticism with our lecture material. Based on the quote, Mysticism is just tomorrows science dreamed today, does Marshall McLuhan follow the view of non-overlapping magesteria? Yes or No DEFINITION 38 no! TERM 39 According to Russell and Schick, we should DEFINITION 39 Usually defer to experts because they know more about the topic than most others do. TERM 40 Russell argues that there is a human tendency to: DEFINITION 40 Believe something more strongly the less evidence we have to support it.
You can consider a claim to be beyond a reasonable doubt if; It offers the best explanation of something TERM 47 Dr. Walters is a physics professor. She has won many teaching awards. Dr. Walters got sick of catching colds in class. She became convinced that large doses of vitamin C and electrolytes would help prevent the common cold. She based this on personal experience. She created a supplement for preventing the common cold, packed them with vitamin C and electrolystes, and sold them to the general public. Well placed advertisements resulted in huge sales of the supplement. Given this, which of the following can you logically conclude? DEFINITION 47 Without independent support for her claim by nutritionists and medical doctors, we have no compelling reason to conclude that she is correct about Vitamin C. TERM 48 Schick describes a study in which subjects knew that the researchers wanted either high or low scores when the subjects were evaluating people in photographs. Schick concludes that this evidence of: DEFINITION 48 Acute sensory perception. TERM 49 A fact is; DEFINITION 49 A true proposition Statement that corresponds to reality TERM 50 Bertrand Russell (mentioned by Schick) believed that DEFINITION 50 The use of reason and logic would eliminate a lot of problems and suffering in the world.
To be considered an expert, a person must; Be able to make consistently correct interpretations of data and draw correct conclusions TERM 52 True or False: The statement that reasons confer probability on propositions means that, the better the reasons we have for believing something, the less likely that the proposition it true DEFINITION 52 False TERM 53 True or False:Hypersensory perception (HSP) can be misinterpreted as extrasensory perception (ESP). DEFINITION 53 True TERM 54 In order for us to claim to have knowledge regarding a proposition (an idea) we must be able to: DEFINITION 54 Offer such strong evidence in support of the idea that our belief in the claim is beyond reasonable doubt TERM 55 True or False: According to Schick, faith even if it leads to a correct belief CANNOT be considered a source of knowledge because it is not based on observable evidence or logic DEFINITION 55 True
True or False: According to Schick, we need good reasons for our beliefs because there are innumerable beliefs to choose from and without good reasons for accepting them, we might as well guess as to what is true and this isnt reliable True TERM 62 Schick asserts that, if we believe that reality is what we want it to be, then: DEFINITION 62 We cannot know anything about the world TERM 63 Schick states that much of what we read or hear regarding extraordinary claims is: DEFINITION 63 Lacking in good whys; i.e., lacking in information as to why we should believe that claim TERM 64 Schick argues that if we want to know the truth about a claim, we should: DEFINITION 64 Let go of our prejudices and preconceptions and examine the evidence TERM 65 Which of the following does Schick think is false? DEFINITION 65 If an experience seems real, then it is real Mystical ways of knowing are superior to ordinary ways of knowing We create our own reality
Which of the following topics are discussed in Schicks book? Astrology and ESP Hauntings and reincarnation TERM 67 Which of the following does the author cite as an example of pseudoscience? DEFINITION 67 Astrology TERM 68 A scientist discovered that air pressures decreases as the height above the surface increases. This relationship is an example of: DEFINITION 68 An inverse proportion TERM 69 The FoS textbook, and the Foundations of Science course, both discuss several different disciplines DEFINITION 69 Without this knowledge we are more likely to make mistakes when trying to understand how things occur The real world is integrated in that physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes all operate together to create the world we experience and so we need to know something about these sciences in order to better understand and appreciate the world TERM 70 Which of the following is a scientific hypothesis? DEFINITION 70 There is a subatomic particle called a Higgs Boson that should be discoverable using powerful particle accelerators if it exists
In order for a hypothesis or theory to be considered scientific, it must be possible to determine if it is: Incorrect (wrong) TERM 77 True or False: The use of control groups enables scientists to determine cause-effect relationships DEFINITION 77 True TERM 78 According to Schick, science DEFINITION 78 Seeks to understand the laws and principles that govern the universe TERM 79 True or False: Ad hoc hypotheses cannot be verified and so, are not considered to be good hypotheses DEFINITION 79 True TERM 80 As discussed by Schick, DEFINITION 80 Some hypotheses are better than others
True or False: Schick states that any procedure that serves to systematically eliminate reasonable grounds for doubt can be considered scientific True TERM 82 True or False: In order for us to explain and predict something, it must follow a pattern or obey rules. DEFINITION 82 True TERM 83 According to Schick, science is: DEFINITION 83 A method of discovering the truth A way of solving problems and answering questions TERM 84 Developing an understanding of the Law of Gravity in order to enable us to understand the motions of the planets is the domain of , whereas using our knowledge of physics to build the spacecraft that carries us to the planets is the domain of. DEFINITION 84 Science; technology TERM 85 To control for factors that might affect the outcome of a clinical study (other than the medicine that is being tested), scientists often us a: DEFINITION 85 Placebo
Consider the claim below when answering the following questions. Michael said that, it is well known the ghosts cause spikes in electrical activity as measured on EMF equipment. Michael detected a spike on his EMF instrument when investigating a house that was said to be haunted and so he concluded that he had detected a ghost. Is the premise of Michaels argument demonstrably true? No TERM 92 Consider the claim below when answering the following questions. Michael said that, it is well known the ghosts cause spikes in electrical activity as measured on EMF equipment. Michael detected a spike on his EMF instrument when investigating a house that was said to be haunted and so he concluded that he had detected a ghost. Are the premises sufficient for Michael to draw the conclusion he drew? DEFINITION 92 No, the premises are not sufficient because there are many things that can affect the reading on an EMF detector which have nothing to do with ghosts. TERM 93 The word argument, as used when practicing critical thinking is: DEFINITION 93 The reason one gives to support a claim TERM 94 Jamie wanted to find out if the majority of people in Texas favored the death penalty. So, he surveyed 25 students in his criminal justice class and found that 85% of them strongly supported the death penalty. Jamie therefore concluded that Texans strongly support the death penalty. Jamie therefore concluded that Texans strongly support the death penalty. Which of the following is true? DEFINITION 94 Jamies conclusion is not strongly supported based on her research TERM 95 What type of error has been made in the following argument? Millions of people believe that St. Johns Wort treats cancer, therefore, you should use it to treat your cancer DEFINITION 95 Appeal to the Masses
Consider the argument below when answering the follow T/F question. Premise: Ships have mysteriously disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle. Premise: the circumstances seem to be too unusual to be accounted for by normal explanations Conclusion: Some of the ships were probably transported to another dimension by some type of space time anomaly or by aliens The conclusion is valid; in other words, given the premises, the conclusion is the only conclusion that can be drawn in this argument NO TERM 97 Schick says that the principles of reasoning and analysis used in his book DEFINITION 97 Can be verified for yourself by using them TERM 98 True or False: According to Schick, the fact that we want something to be true is a good reason to believe that it is true. DEFINITION 98 False TERM 99 Schick reports information that suggests that many high school science teachers are: DEFINITION 99 May not be prepared to teach science as indicated by many of the unsupported or discredited ideas they believe are true TERM 100 Which of the following is NOT true of science? DEFINITION 100 It sometimes explains things in terms of supernatural processes
