Q Exercise 11.1 3. No. At any given time, a particular worldview might predominate in the scientific community, but this fact doesn’t mean that the worldview is what science is all about. 4. Motivated reasoning is when a person reasons for the purpose of supporting a predetermined conclusion, rather than for the purpose of uncovering the truth. 5. Science embodies to a high degree what is essential to reliable knowing of empirical facts: systematic consideration of alternative solutions or theories, rigorous testing of them, and careful checking and rechecking of the conclusions. Exercise 11.2 1. Hypothesis: Women are more studious than men. Test implication: If women are more scientifically literate than men because they are more studious, then a test of scientific literacy that ensures that men and women subjects are equally studious should show men and women performing about the same. 2. Hypothesis: Two guys are perpetrating a Bigfoot hoax. Test implication: If the two guys are perpetrating a hoax, then monitoring their behavior day and night should yield evidence of hoaxing activity. 5. Hypothesis: Some intelligence agents are incompetent. Test implication: If intelligence agents who supplied the information are incompetent, then a review of their past and current work should reveal a pattern of incompetent intelligence gathering. 8. Hypothesis: Diets high in saturated fats are the cause of coronary artery disease. Test implication: If diets high in saturated fats are the cause of coronary artery disease, then a double blind controlled trial comparing the effects of a high-fat diet against a low-fat or normal-fat diet should show a greater incidence of coronary artery disease in the high-fat group. Exercise 11.4 1. Test implication: If Elise has the power to move physical objects with her mind alone, then she should be able to pass a controlled test in which she is supposed to move a small object without using ordinary means (and in which cheating and chance are ruled out). The test would likely disconfirm the theory. 2. Test implication: If brighter street lights decrease the crime rate, then reducing the brightness of the lights (while keeping constant all other factors, such as police patrols) should increase the crime rate. The test would likely confirm the theory. 3. Test implication: If the Ultra-Sonic 2000 can rid a house of roaches by emitting a particular sound frequency, then the device should pass a series of controlled tests. In each test, two identical rooms full of roaches could be used, one containing a working Ultra-Sonic 2000 and the other having no antiroach measures at all. To pass the test, the device would have to consistently rid the room of roaches while the other room remained infested. The tests would likely disconfirm the theory. (In similar tests conducted by the federal government, an antibug device failed.) Exercise 11.3 & 11.5- Answers will vary