Textbook questions

 

 

 

 

Textbook questions

Name

Institution

 

 

Textbook questions

1. Since we can’t know anything for sure, we really don’t know anything. A

Knowing something means to have experienced it, developed a strong belief about it, and have accurate knowledge to justify it. Since we only have opinions rather than justified information, it is true that we really don’t know anything.

2. Since our beliefs influence what we see, we can’t gather accurate knowledge about our world. A

Our decisions and ideas are dictated by what we believe in. Even if we are provided with facts, we will still give inaccurate information because we argue according to our perceptions.

3. There are things we just can’t know. A

There is no limit to obtaining knowledge, but whether religious, social, or scientific, we cannot know everything because the world is full of mysteries. Van Wormer & Besthorn (2017) prove this when they say, “if only you knew what goes on behind the scenes.”

4. It’s good not to be too skeptical because anything is possible. A

Human beings cannot foretell what will happen with an affirmative degree of certainty. The fact that some things are impossible proves that anything is possible.

5. We can’t be certain of anything. A

People might be convinced to believe something due to persuasive evidence. It is important to note that someone passes the knowledge we have either through books or physical conversations. Therefore, an allowance for doubt is practical.

6. Everything is relative. All ways of “knowing” are equally true. A

We all have individual experiences and thoughts which relate. Given eminent explanations, all ways of thinking can be correct.

7. Scientists/researchers don’t know everything. A

The world is diverse. We learn new things every day, and the new knowledge might change our current beliefs or provide different explanations to certain occurrences. Although scientists are highly intelligent people and appear like they know everything, they can’t know everything (Burnett, 2016).

8. Some things can’t be demonstrated scientifically. A

We can suggest, demonstrate, and convince some principles and empirical processes; however, not all things can, for a fact, be scientifically proven.

9. Trying to measure client outcome dehumanizes clients, reducing them to the status of a laboratory rat. D

Measuring client outcome is essential to track progress toward success in service delivery. Employers might need their clients to provide feedback or undergo a test. This strategy does not dehumanize or stereotype them.

10. Scientific reasoning and data are of no value in planning social policy and social action. D

Scientific evidence consists of broadly researched facts. These facts form reliable explanations for different phenomena. Hence, such data can be used to make policies and social actions.

11. Science is a way of thinking developed by white, male Western Europeans. It doesn’t apply to other people and cultures. D

Even though some people and cultures do not believe scientific literacy, science applies to them. Some laws like gravity and newton that have been scientifically proven are applicable in every individual’s lives.

FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS

1. Imagine a practitioner who agrees with your instructor’s suggested answers and reasons and another who does not. Which one would do the least harm to clients? The one who disagrees. Why? They are flexible and can adjust to a client’s needs.
2. Which one would most likely help clients? The one who disagrees. Why? They can present different solutions throughout daily interactions with clients.

 

 

References

Van Wormer, K., & Besthorn, F. H. (2017). Human behavior and the social environment, macro level: Groups, communities, and organizations. Oxford University Press.

Burnett, D. (2016, March 1). The myth of the know-it-all scientist | Dean Burnett. https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2016/mar/01/the-myth-of-the-know-it-all-scientist.