Chapter 09 Practice Quiz

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. Inference to the best explanation ________.

never goes beyond the given evidence correct incorrect

provides necessary conclusions correct incorrect

reasons from a fact about a state of affairs to an explanation of that fact correct incorrect

can conclusively separate strong conclusions from weak conclusions correct incorrect

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. According to the criteria of adequacy, the assessment of a theory is complete only if ________.

alternative or competing theories have been considered correct incorrect

the truth of the candidate for the best explanation has been confirmed correct incorrect

inconsistencies in the theory have been acknowledged correct incorrect

a conclusion has been adequately proven or disproven correct incorrect

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. A theory that makes assumptions regarding the existence of an "unknown force" in order to explain a phenomenon ________.

fails to satisfy the criterion of internal consistency correct incorrect

is testable correct incorrect

has a very broad scope correct incorrect

fails to satisfy the criterion of simplicity correct incorrect

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. A fruitful theory ________.

is testable and successfully predicts known phenomena correct incorrect

is not necessarily testable, but sometimes predicts previously unknown phenomena correct incorrect

is testable and successfully predicts previously unknown phenomena correct incorrect

is not testable and cannot predict previously unknown phenomena correct incorrect

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. A theory that cannot be verified independently of the phenomena it is trying to explain is ________.

a theory that fails the criterion of conservatism correct incorrect

an unfruitful theory correct incorrect

an ad hoc thesis correct incorrect

a strong theory correct incorrect

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. A theory satisfies the criterion of conservatism if and only if ________.

it is coherent with our established beliefs correct incorrect

it reflects free market economic ideals correct incorrect

it is consistent with the traditional beliefs of the dominant cultural group correct incorrect

it does not support radical political movements correct incorrect

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. A theory that is free of contradictions is called ________.

abductive correct incorrect

externally consistent correct incorrect

internally consistent correct incorrect

conservative correct incorrect

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. The standards used to judge the worth of explanatory theories are called ________.

minimum requirements correct incorrect

criteria of adequacy correct incorrect

testability correct incorrect

scrutiny correct incorrect

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. A four-step theory for evaluating the worth of a theory is called ________.

the TEST formula correct incorrect

OTE process correct incorrect

abduction correct incorrect

criteria of adequacy correct incorrect

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. Abduction is sometimes referred to as ________.

consistency correct incorrect

guesswork correct incorrect

observation correct incorrect

conservatism correct incorrect

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. A fruitful theory makes novel predictions.

TRUE correct incorrect

FALSE correct incorrect

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. If there is no possibility of discovering evidence that could prove a theory incorrect, then that theory is an excellent theory.

TRUE correct incorrect

FALSE correct incorrect

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. All other things being equal, a theory that meets the criterion of conservatism is better than an alternative theory because a conservative theory makes fewer assumptions.

TRUE correct incorrect

FALSE correct incorrect

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. The simplest theory is one that makes the fewest assumptions.

TRUE correct incorrect

FALSE correct incorrect

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. If a theory fully accounts for all available data, then it is said to be externally consistent.

TRUE correct incorrect

FALSE correct incorrect

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. A theory that explains more phenomena than an alternate theory is preferable, other things being equal.

TRUE correct incorrect

FALSE correct incorrect

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. A theory which is internally consistent is by definition externally consistent.

TRUE correct incorrect

FALSE correct incorrect

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. A theory satisfies the criterion of simplicity to the extent that is makes a number of novel predictions.

TRUE correct incorrect

FALSE correct incorrect

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. If there is some way to determine whether a theory is true or false, then it is called "fruitful."

TRUE correct incorrect

FALSE correct incorrect

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. A conservative theory fits with our established beliefs.

TRUE correct incorrect

FALSE correct incorrect