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Sociology of scientific knowledge - Quiz
Contributed by: MacKenzie
  • 1. The sociology of scientific knowledge (SSK) is a field of study that explores how social factors and interactions shape the development and practice of scientific knowledge. It examines how various social contexts, such as political influences, cultural beliefs, and economic factors, can impact the scientific process and the acceptance of scientific theories. SSK challenges the idea of science as a neutral and objective endeavor, instead highlighting the role of human subjectivity and societal values in shaping what is considered valid knowledge. By studying the social dimensions of science, SSK aims to uncover the power dynamics and biases that may influence scientific research and institutions, ultimately contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between knowledge production and society.

    What role does 'reflexivity' play in the sociology of scientific knowledge?
A) Preventing scientists from sharing their findings with others
B) Ensuring that scientific experiments always produce consistent results
C) Promoting the use of robotic technology in scientific research
D) Encouraging researchers to reflect on their own biases and assumptions
  • 2. How does the sociology of scientific knowledge challenge the notion of 'objectivity' in science?
A) By showing that scientific facts are never subject to change
B) By proving that scientific experiments are always accurate
C) By claiming that scientific theories are beyond human understanding
D) By highlighting that even scientific knowledge is influenced by social factors
  • 3. What does the concept of 'radical constructivism' suggest about scientific knowledge?
A) That scientific knowledge can only be acquired through radical scientific methods
B) That scientific knowledge is constructed by human minds and is not objective reality
C) That scientific knowledge is inherently biased against certain groups
D) That scientific knowledge is based on radical political ideologies
  • 4. What role does 'social constructivism' play in understanding the production of scientific knowledge?
A) Promoting the construction of new social ideals based on scientific discoveries
B) Emphasizing that scientific knowledge is socially constructed and not purely objective
C) Supporting the concept of individual scientists as objective truth-seekers
D) Reinforcing the idea that scientific knowledge is independent of social influences
  • 5. How does the 'invisible college' concept relate to the sociology of scientific knowledge?
A) Refers to an informal network of scientists who share knowledge and collaborate
B) Denotes a group of scientists who wear invisible camouflage during experiments
C) Signifies a college that teaches science without any physical campus
D) Describes a secretive society within the scientific community
  • 6. What is 'science and technology studies' (STS) and its significance in the sociology of scientific knowledge?
A) An interdisciplinary field that studies the interactions between science, technology, and society
B) A discipline that excludes societal impacts on scientific and technological progress
C) A field that studies only scientific experiments conducted with advanced technology
D) A branch of science dedicated to studying technology without societal contexts
  • 7. Who coined the term 'Strong Programme' in the context of SSK?
A) David Bloor
B) Bruno Latour
C) Thomas Kuhn
D) Karl Popper
  • 8. How does 'posthuman science' challenge human-centered perspectives in the sociology of scientific knowledge?
A) By exploring how non-human entities and technologies shape scientific knowledge production
B) By ignoring the impact of environmental factors on scientific experiments
C) By focusing only on human achievements in scientific history
D) By insisting on the exclusivity of human intelligence in science
  • 9. Who emphasized the role of laboratory studies in understanding how scientific knowledge is socially constructed?
A) Marie Curie
B) Bruno Latour
C) Isaac Newton
D) Charles Darwin
  • 10. What does the 'incommensurability thesis' propose in the sociology of scientific knowledge?
A) That scientific theories from different historical periods may be fundamentally incompatible
B) That all scientific theories are interchangeable and equivalent
C) That scientific theories are always commensurate with each other
D) That scientific theories can never be understood by ordinary individuals
  • 11. What role does 'technoscience' play in understanding the relationship between science and society?
A) It focuses solely on technological advancements without considering scientific principles
B) It emphasizes the entanglement of scientific and technological developments with social factors
C) It promotes the separation of science and technology in society
D) It analyzes science in isolation from societal influences
  • 12. How does the 'democratic ethos' concept relate to the sociology of scientific knowledge?
A) By emphasizing the need for scientific dictators in research institutions
B) By promoting elitism within scientific communities
C) By suggesting that scientific knowledge should be restricted to a select group of individuals
D) By advocating for the democratization of scientific knowledge production and decision-making processes
  • 13. How does 'scientific activism' influence the sociology of scientific knowledge?
A) By advocating for the elimination of scientific knowledge from society
B) By highlighting the social and political dimensions of scientific practices and knowledge production
C) By promoting activism within scientific laboratories
D) By encouraging scientists to adopt extreme activist ideologies
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