HSC 300 MIDTERM QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Which of the following statements best describes the role of
theories in science according to Chapter 1 of Kellstedt and Whitten?
a.Only highly trained PhD researchers can develop theories.
b. A theory is tentative statement about the cause of some
phenomenon of interest.
c.A theory is inferior to scientific fact.
d. Scientific theories only arise from laboratory experiments..
Answer: B
◉ Which of the following is an example of a negative relationship?
A As military spending goes up, welfare spending goes down.
,b.Inflation is bad for the middle class.
c.People with higher levels of education have a higher probability of
voting.
d. As the price of steel goes up, the price of cars goes up..
Answer: A
◉ Which of the following accurately describes a variable according
to Chapter 1 of Kellstedt and Whitten?
a.Something that changes over time.
b.Something that is uncertain.
c.An undefinable quantity that takes on a range of values.
d. A definable quantity that takes on two or more values..
Answer: D
◉ Which of the following accurately describes the relationship
between a theory and a hypothesis according to Chapter 1 of
Kellstedt & Whitten?
,A A single theory can lead to multiple hypotheses.
b.Neither a nor b is accurate.
c.Both a and b are accurate.
d. If the direction of the relationship in a theory is positive then the
direction of the relationship in the resulting hypothesis will also be
positive..
Answer: B
◉ Identify which one of the "Rules of the Road to Scientific
Knowledge" has been violated:
A researcher writing about the effects of military spending on public
support for incumbent politicians writes "Since it is obvious that
military spending hurts the economy and we have evidence that
poor economic performance leads to lower incumbent support
among voter, I conclude that military spending must hurt incumbent
support."
, a.Make your theories causal.
b.None of the above.
c. Consider only empirical evidence
d. Avoid normative statement.
Answer: C
◉ Which of the following accurately describes hypothesis testing
according to Chapter 1 of Kellstedt and Whitten?
a.The act of interviewing experts on your topic of interest.
b. None of the above.
c. The act of logically deducing how two variables related to one
another.
d. The act of evaluating empirical evidence to find cases that support
one's theory..
Answer: C
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Which of the following statements best describes the role of
theories in science according to Chapter 1 of Kellstedt and Whitten?
a.Only highly trained PhD researchers can develop theories.
b. A theory is tentative statement about the cause of some
phenomenon of interest.
c.A theory is inferior to scientific fact.
d. Scientific theories only arise from laboratory experiments..
Answer: B
◉ Which of the following is an example of a negative relationship?
A As military spending goes up, welfare spending goes down.
,b.Inflation is bad for the middle class.
c.People with higher levels of education have a higher probability of
voting.
d. As the price of steel goes up, the price of cars goes up..
Answer: A
◉ Which of the following accurately describes a variable according
to Chapter 1 of Kellstedt and Whitten?
a.Something that changes over time.
b.Something that is uncertain.
c.An undefinable quantity that takes on a range of values.
d. A definable quantity that takes on two or more values..
Answer: D
◉ Which of the following accurately describes the relationship
between a theory and a hypothesis according to Chapter 1 of
Kellstedt & Whitten?
,A A single theory can lead to multiple hypotheses.
b.Neither a nor b is accurate.
c.Both a and b are accurate.
d. If the direction of the relationship in a theory is positive then the
direction of the relationship in the resulting hypothesis will also be
positive..
Answer: B
◉ Identify which one of the "Rules of the Road to Scientific
Knowledge" has been violated:
A researcher writing about the effects of military spending on public
support for incumbent politicians writes "Since it is obvious that
military spending hurts the economy and we have evidence that
poor economic performance leads to lower incumbent support
among voter, I conclude that military spending must hurt incumbent
support."
, a.Make your theories causal.
b.None of the above.
c. Consider only empirical evidence
d. Avoid normative statement.
Answer: C
◉ Which of the following accurately describes hypothesis testing
according to Chapter 1 of Kellstedt and Whitten?
a.The act of interviewing experts on your topic of interest.
b. None of the above.
c. The act of logically deducing how two variables related to one
another.
d. The act of evaluating empirical evidence to find cases that support
one's theory..
Answer: C
