You got 9 of 11 possible points.
Your score was: 82 %

Question Results

Score 3 of 3

Question:

Multiple choice question

Empirical means based on measurements, observations or scientific experiments.

For example:

If you want me to believe that what you say about global warming is true, you will have to show me some empirical evidence.

objective observations.

reliable measurements.

one person's opinion.

scientific experiments.

Which answers best complete this sentence? Choose the 3 correct answers.

Empirical means based on... 

Response:

scientific experiments.

one person's opinion.

reliable measurements.

objective observations.
Score 3 of 3

Question:

Multiple choice question

The examples below illustrate the meaning of empirical.

an experiment which compares the achievements of 3rd grade pupils in 16 schools

a study which measures how 1200 sick people respond to a new medicine

results of research on what makes plants grow faster

a theoretical approach to solving a problem

Which answers below are sources of empirical evidence? Choose the 3 correct answers.

Response:

a study which measures how 1200 sick people respond to a new medicine

an experiment which compares the achievements of 3rd grade pupils in 16 schools

results of research on what makes plants grow faster

a theoretical approach to solving a problem
Score 1 of 3

Question:

Multiple choice question

conduct a scientific experiment to examine something.

review different theories about a subject.

measure the results of different tests.

make observations and draw conclusions.

Which answer best completes the sentence below? Choose the 3 correct answers. 

In order to make a decision on the basis of empirical evidence, you...

Response:

review different theories about a subject.
Feedback:

In order to make a decision based on empirical evidence, you need to consider findings based on observations, experiments or measurements. Theories about a subject are not necessarily based on actual data or observations, so they are not considered 'empirical'.

measure the results of different tests.

make observations and draw conclusions.

conduct a scientific experiment to examine something.
Score 2 of 2

Question:

Multiple choice question

Empirical data from only one researcher are usually not enough to validate a theory.
In order to validate a theory, we need empirical data from different researchers.

The paragraph below describes the work of Jean Piaget, who was an important exception to this rule.

Read this paragraph and answer the question below.

True. Empirical evidence means the same as proof of a theory.

False. Empirical validation of a theory requires empirical evidence from a number of similar studies, conducted by different researchers.

The Role of Empirical Data

Jean Piaget (1896-1980) was a psychologist who formulated many new theories about child development. In order to test his theories, Piaget spent many years carefully collecting empirical data by observing and studying how children think and perceive the world around them. These empirical findings helped Piaget to convince others that his theories were correct. However, today empirical data from only one researcher are usually not enough to show that a theory is correct: Different researchers would have to conduct many similar studies and get similar results before we can say that consistent empirical data validate a theory.

Is the following statement true or false? According to the paragraph, empirical data collected by one researcher would be enough to prove that his theory is correct. Choose correct answer.

Response:

True. Empirical evidence means the same as proof of a theory.

False. Empirical validation of a theory requires empirical evidence from a number of similar studies, conducted by different researchers.