PHL 111 Module Four Study Guide: Knowledge, Evidence, and Errors
In Thinking
Course: Introduction to Critical Thinking
1. What is important to remember about all types of knowledge?
a. The quality of it as memory
b. The probability of it occurring again
c. The limit of it as evidence
d. The number of people that believe it
Answer: C- The limit of it as evidence
2. True or False: Wikipedia entries can be used as references in research.
a. True
b. False
Answer: False.
The reasoning is because while sites such as Wikipedia might be a good starting point for
research, Wikipedia entries, because they are not necessarily written by experts in their
fields, cannot be used as references in research.
3. How would an organizational domain website be suspicious in the information
presented?
a. Organization may be non-profit
b. Organization may not have expert opinion
c. Organization might have a particular bias
d. Organization may have no government information
Answer: C- Organization might have a particular bias
4. _____ occur when our brains filter our impressions and fill in missing information
based in part on our expectations.
a. Perceptual errors
b. Probability errors
c. Gambler’s errors
d. Memorable-events errors
Answer: A- Perceptual errors
5. Justin and Derek are classmates. Derek is well-dressed, popular, and charming, while
Justin is an introvert. One day their classmate's smartphone gets stolen. Everybody in
their class believes Justin to be the culprit. However, it was found that Derek was
responsible for the theft. Which type of social error or bias is exemplified in this
scenario?
a. Conformity bias
b. Social expectations
c. Probability error
d. Diffusion of responsibility
Answer: B- Social expectations
6. Which is one important property of knowledge?
a. Information that has a confirmed source
b. Information that has an expert’s backing
c. Information that has evidence or justification
d. Evidence that seems rational
Answer: C- Information that has evidence or justification
7. Scholarly review journals will always be reviewed by _____
a. Editors-in-chief
b. Undergraduate scholars
c. Arbitrarily determined third parties
d. Experts in the field
Answer: D- Experts in the field
8. Which website URL may be a suspicious source of information due to advertising?
a. Commercial website
b. Government website
c. Educational website
d. Non-profit website
Answer: A- Commercial website
9. The phenomenon of UFO sightings would fall under the perceptual error of _____
a. Self-serving biases
b. Probability errors
c. Optical illusions
d. Self-fulfilling prophecies
Answer: C- Optical illusions
10. How can one ensure that social expectations do not become collective delusions?
a. By changing the social expectations of a community
b. By subjecting social expectations to critical analysis
c. By institutionalizing social expectations
d. By backing social expectations with proof
Answer: B- By subjecting social expectations to critical analysis
