Question 1

Which of the following is not a step in the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed (Observation, Hypothesis, Experimentation) are indeed steps in the scientific method, making D the correct answer as it states that all the given options are steps in the scientific method.

Question 2

Which of the following is not a component of critical thinking?

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves not just the possession of skills but also the application and habit of using those skills to analyze information and guide behavior. Merely having a set of skills without applying them does not constitute critical thinking.

Question 3

Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that occur when the criminal profiler is being intentionally deceptive.

Accepted Answer

Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that can occur unintentionally. However, they can also be used intentionally to deceive or manipulate an audience. Therefore, the statement "logical fallacies occur when the criminal profiler is being intentionally deceptive" is partially true, but it is not always the case.

Question 4

________is the process of argumentation and the science of valid thought and reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Logic is the process of argumentation and the science of valid thought and reasoning, making it the best choice. Choice A, bias, refers to an individual's tendency to favor one side or opinion over another and is not related to the given definition. Choice B, critical thinking, is a companion to logic but focuses more on evaluating arguments and evidence rather than constructing them. Choice C, metacognition, is a term for the process of thinking about one's own thinking and is also not related to the given definition.

Question 5

Which principle of logic bars the examiner from assuming facts for the purpose of analysis or from using Martians, UFOs, or Bigfoot to explain events?

Accepted Answer

The principle of sufficient reason states that everything must have a reason or cause. This principle bars the use of unfounded assumptions or fantastical explanations (like Martians, UFOs, or Bigfoot) because these do not provide a sufficient or credible reason or cause for events.

Question 6

Which of the following is not a basic principle of logic?

Accepted Answer

The principles of identity, the excluded middle, and sufficient reason are foundational principles of logic. The principle of critical thinking, while important in logical analysis and reasoning, is not considered a basic principle of logic in the same way these others are. It is more of a broad skill applicable across various disciplines, including logic, rather than a principle that underlies the structure of logical systems themselves.

Question 7

What are the 2 types of inductive arguments?

Accepted Answer

Statistical and inductive generalization are the two types of inductive arguments. Statistical arguments are based on the probability derived from statistical data, while inductive generalizations are made from specific observations to broader generalizations.

Question 8

Of all the steps in the scientific method, which step separates scientific inquiry from all others?

Accepted Answer

Experimentation is the step that separates scientific inquiry from all others because it involves manipulating and controlling variables in order to test a hypothesis and determine if it is supported by the data. This step allows for the testing of causal relationships and helps to rule out alternative explanations for observed phenomena. While the other steps (observation, hypothesis, and conclusion) are important components of the scientific method, they do not involve the same level of manipulation or control of variables as experimentation.

Question 9

Which logical fallacy is the opposite of a hasty generalization?

Accepted Answer

Sweeping generalization is the opposite of a hasty generalization because it applies a general rule too broadly, assuming that what is true in most cases must be true in all cases, whereas a hasty generalization makes a broad conclusion based on a small sample.

Question 10

What are the two general categories of reasoning behind the criminal profiling process?

Accepted Answer

Induction and deduction are the two general categories of reasoning used in the criminal profiling process. Inductive reasoning involves making generalizations based on specific observations, while deductive reasoning starts with a general theory or premise and works towards specific conclusions.

Question 11

If a hypothesis remains standing after a succession of tests or experiments fail to disprove it, then it may become a ________.

Accepted Answer

A scientific hypothesis may become a scientific theory if it withstands repeated testing and experimentation without being disproven. A scientific principle is a fundamental truth based on empirical observations and is considered a scientific fact. However, a hypothesis is not necessarily a scientific fact, and therefore the correct answer is B, scientific theory.

Question 12

The scientific examiner is an imperfectly calibrated instrument.

Accepted Answer

The scientific examiner, whether it is a human scientist or a machine, is subject to bias, error, limitations, and uncertainty. The accuracy and precision of its measurements and conclusions depend on various factors, such as the quality of the data, the methodology, the assumptions, the background knowledge, the interpretation, and the context. Therefore, science can never claim absolute certainty or infallibility, but only provisional, probabilistic, and falsifiable knowledge.

Question 13

________is the cornerstone of the scientific method.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________is the cornerstone of the scientific method.
...

Question 14

Which principle of logic may be used to argue for individually profiling particular crimes---that is, treating each case as an individual event, rather than as an extension of "similar" crimes?

Accepted Answer

The principle of identity states that each thing is identical with itself and different from others, supporting the idea of treating each crime as an individual event.

Question 15

What is the most common logical fallacy because of its effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

Argumentum ad hominem is the most common logical fallacy due to its effectiveness. It targets the opponent's character or personal traits in an attempt to undermine their argument, often diverting attention from the argument itself and appealing to emotions rather than logic.

Question 16

The experimental stage of the scientific method attempts to prove the hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

The experimental stage of the scientific method is designed to test the hypothesis, not to prove it. Experiments can support a hypothesis or indicate the need for its revision, but they do not definitively prove it.

Question 17

An inference is a particular type of conclusion based on theory or conjecture without firm evidence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An inference is a particular type of...

Question 18

If an examiner's methods or results are influenced by the real or perceived expectations of his or her employer, this would be an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If an examiner's methods or results are...

Question 19

Scientific theories that withstand the test of time and study eventually become________ .

Accepted Answer

Scientific theories that are consistently validated through experimentation and observation can become scientific principles, which are widely accepted as foundational truths within the scientific community.

Question 20

The first step in the scientific method is observation.

Accepted Answer

The first step in the scientific method is indeed observation, where the researcher uses their senses to gather information about a phenomenon or event.

Quiz 2: Criminal Profiling: Science, Logic, and Cognition