FOS EXAM 3 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2025-2026
Complementary & Alternative Medicines (CAM): - Answers The need for Control Groups,
placebos and Double Blind Studies.
CAM claims require FiLCHeRS to minimize the possibility of errors.
can be determined if it works by using controlled experiments and filchers.
Alternative medicines - Answers Are meant to take the place of traditional medicines.
Complementary Medicines - Answers Are used in addition to other medicine.
FiLCHeRS - Answers • Falsifiability- It must be possible to conceive of a test that would disprove
the idea if it were false; claim must be testable.
- Supernatural Explanations
- Undeclared/Vague Claims
- Multiple Outs
• Logic- If an argument is presented in support of a claim, then it must be logical; i.e., it must be
both valid and sound.
- An argument is an attempt to persuade someone that something is true based on one or more
premises.
o Premise(s): A statement made by the person making an argument that he or she believes to
be true. The information upon which the argument is based.
o Conclusion: The claim that the premises are intended to support.
• Comprehensiveness- Consider all relevant evidence, alternate explanations, and must utilize
multiple working hypotheses.
• Honesty- the evidence must be evaluated impartially, in an unbiased, fair-minded manner
without self-deception.
• Replicability- The results of studies and experiments, especially if they are contrary to
expectations, must be replicated by other researchers.
• Sufficiency- the evidence for a claim must be sufficient to establish the truth (soundness) of
the claim.
, -Burden of proof, is on the person making the claim.
-Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence
PSEUDOSCIENCE - Answers 1. The discoverer pitches the claim directly to the media, rather
than going through a per review and publication process
2. Discoverer claims a powerful establishment is trying to suppress his work. (ex. FDA or
pharmaceutical companies)
3. Evidnce for a discovery is all testimonial/ anecdotal.
4. Appeal to tradition because it has been around for centuries.
5. Discoverer has worked in isolation.
6. Discoverer must propose new laws of nature to explain an observation.
For example
Forces: many believe that there are forces in nature that are separated from the known science.
Power: forces are energized by mystical power that exists in all things.
7. Propose an analogous treatment. Faulty analogy: things that resemble other actions and have
casual connection.
Experiments - Answers Experiments: Form of controlled observation which enable a researcher
to test a hypothesis by controlling the factor/conditions that might affect the phenomenon
under investigation.
- Control refers to ability to manipulate the factor that might affect the outcome of the
experiment. The rest will be held constant.
Complementary & Alternative Medicines (CAM): - Answers The need for Control Groups,
placebos and Double Blind Studies.
CAM claims require FiLCHeRS to minimize the possibility of errors.
can be determined if it works by using controlled experiments and filchers.
Alternative medicines - Answers Are meant to take the place of traditional medicines.
Complementary Medicines - Answers Are used in addition to other medicine.
FiLCHeRS - Answers • Falsifiability- It must be possible to conceive of a test that would disprove
the idea if it were false; claim must be testable.
- Supernatural Explanations
- Undeclared/Vague Claims
- Multiple Outs
• Logic- If an argument is presented in support of a claim, then it must be logical; i.e., it must be
both valid and sound.
- An argument is an attempt to persuade someone that something is true based on one or more
premises.
o Premise(s): A statement made by the person making an argument that he or she believes to
be true. The information upon which the argument is based.
o Conclusion: The claim that the premises are intended to support.
• Comprehensiveness- Consider all relevant evidence, alternate explanations, and must utilize
multiple working hypotheses.
• Honesty- the evidence must be evaluated impartially, in an unbiased, fair-minded manner
without self-deception.
• Replicability- The results of studies and experiments, especially if they are contrary to
expectations, must be replicated by other researchers.
• Sufficiency- the evidence for a claim must be sufficient to establish the truth (soundness) of
the claim.
, -Burden of proof, is on the person making the claim.
-Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence
PSEUDOSCIENCE - Answers 1. The discoverer pitches the claim directly to the media, rather
than going through a per review and publication process
2. Discoverer claims a powerful establishment is trying to suppress his work. (ex. FDA or
pharmaceutical companies)
3. Evidnce for a discovery is all testimonial/ anecdotal.
4. Appeal to tradition because it has been around for centuries.
5. Discoverer has worked in isolation.
6. Discoverer must propose new laws of nature to explain an observation.
For example
Forces: many believe that there are forces in nature that are separated from the known science.
Power: forces are energized by mystical power that exists in all things.
7. Propose an analogous treatment. Faulty analogy: things that resemble other actions and have
casual connection.
Experiments - Answers Experiments: Form of controlled observation which enable a researcher
to test a hypothesis by controlling the factor/conditions that might affect the phenomenon
under investigation.
- Control refers to ability to manipulate the factor that might affect the outcome of the
experiment. The rest will be held constant.
