STS Exam 2 Questions with Correct
Solutions
Difference between how scientists and engineers work - Answer-Scientists:
-"Primarily responsible to internal demands of science"
-Have some freedom
-but need to produce summary of findings at end
Engineers:
-"expected to produce practical problems which address particular stated problems"
-Not allowed to explore what they want
-must regularly provide reports on progress
Why is development of technology considered incremental? - Answer-Often results from changes to the
original innovation
ex. Photography
What does consumer need have to do with technology? - Answer-Success of an innovation depends on
demand
, People aren't good predictors of what they want: ex. Sony with the Walkman took a chance
How do great successes in the improvement of technology usually come about? - Answer-More often
than not, a clever hunch about what might work, gradually improved upon.
What happens during the product development state? - Answer-Workable innovation -> competitively
priced invention, made in sufficient quantities to take advantages of economies of scale
What is scaling up? - Answer-taking initial discovery and developing conditions needed for commercial
success. E. penicillin
What are complementary technologies? - Answer-Technologies that are only functional as parts of
systems
ex. Electrical system: generators, wiring from power plants to homes, appliances
How does Thomas Kuhn say science develops? - Answer-Periods of cumulative, incremental
development with periods of non-cumulative transformation
What is normal science? - Answer-Period of cumulative, incremental development; work processes
under paradigm
What is a paradigm? - Answer-Conceptual and theoretical framework through which scientists organize
experience; guides research direction and used to explain new phenomena
What are the 3 things paradigms determine? - Answer-1) Theories accepted and believed by scientists
in discipline
2) Standards of field, including methodology for experimentation
3) Outstanding puzzles which paradigm should solve
Solutions
Difference between how scientists and engineers work - Answer-Scientists:
-"Primarily responsible to internal demands of science"
-Have some freedom
-but need to produce summary of findings at end
Engineers:
-"expected to produce practical problems which address particular stated problems"
-Not allowed to explore what they want
-must regularly provide reports on progress
Why is development of technology considered incremental? - Answer-Often results from changes to the
original innovation
ex. Photography
What does consumer need have to do with technology? - Answer-Success of an innovation depends on
demand
, People aren't good predictors of what they want: ex. Sony with the Walkman took a chance
How do great successes in the improvement of technology usually come about? - Answer-More often
than not, a clever hunch about what might work, gradually improved upon.
What happens during the product development state? - Answer-Workable innovation -> competitively
priced invention, made in sufficient quantities to take advantages of economies of scale
What is scaling up? - Answer-taking initial discovery and developing conditions needed for commercial
success. E. penicillin
What are complementary technologies? - Answer-Technologies that are only functional as parts of
systems
ex. Electrical system: generators, wiring from power plants to homes, appliances
How does Thomas Kuhn say science develops? - Answer-Periods of cumulative, incremental
development with periods of non-cumulative transformation
What is normal science? - Answer-Period of cumulative, incremental development; work processes
under paradigm
What is a paradigm? - Answer-Conceptual and theoretical framework through which scientists organize
experience; guides research direction and used to explain new phenomena
What are the 3 things paradigms determine? - Answer-1) Theories accepted and believed by scientists
in discipline
2) Standards of field, including methodology for experimentation
3) Outstanding puzzles which paradigm should solve
