PhD Doctor of Philosophy Philosophy of Science and Research Methodology 2

Question 1

Bas van Fraassen's 'constructive empiricism' claims that the goal of science is:

Accepted Answer

To produce theories that are empirically adequate with respect to observable phenomena

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To discover necessary truths about the natural world through pure reason

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To construct true theories about observable and unobservable entities alike

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To achieve consensus among scientists about the best available models

Question 2

The 'no-miracles argument' for scientific realism holds that:

Accepted Answer

The predictive success of science would be miraculous unless scientific theories are approximately true

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Religious miracles can be scientifically explained by quantum indeterminacy

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Scientific consensus must be accepted on faith, analogous to religious belief

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Statistical anomalies in data should be treated as potential violations of natural law

Question 3

Paul Feyerabend's 'epistemological anarchism' is best summarized by which claim?

Accepted Answer

There is no single scientific method, and 'anything goes' in scientific practice

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Science must follow strict inductive methods to be trustworthy

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Science is the only legitimate form of knowledge in modern society

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Scientific theories must be tested exclusively through quantitative experiments

Question 4

In research methodology, the distinction between 'quantitative' and 'qualitative' methods primarily concerns:

Accepted Answer

Whether data is expressed numerically or through interpretive, non-numerical description

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The prestige of the journal in which the research is published

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The size of the research team conducting the study

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Whether the research is funded by public or private sources

Question 5

The 'pessimistic meta-induction' is an argument against scientific realism that reasons:

Accepted Answer

Past scientific theories were successful yet later proven false, so current theories are probably also false

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Scientists are motivated by career incentives and therefore unreliable reporters of findings

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Most scientific hypotheses are never tested rigorously enough to be trusted

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Inductive reasoning cannot ground any belief in the reliability of science

Question 6

A 'thought experiment' in the philosophy of science functions primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Explore logical implications of theories by imagining hypothetical scenarios

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Replace laboratory experiments when equipment is unavailable

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Provide statistical evidence for or against a theoretical prediction

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Demonstrate that scientific claims are reducible to common-sense intuitions

Question 7

The concept of 'ontological reduction' in philosophy of science refers to:

Accepted Answer

Showing that entities or properties of one domain are identical to or composed of entities from another domain

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Simplifying the vocabulary used in scientific publications

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Eliminating competing theoretical frameworks through empirical testing

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Reducing the number of hypotheses proposed within a research programme