Test Bank for Exploring Family Theories 4th Edition by Suzanne R. Smith , Raeann R. Hamon

TEST BANK FOR EXPLORING FAMILY THEORIES 4TH EDITION BY SUZANNE R. SMITH , RAEANN R. HAMON 2 Test Questions 1. ___________ about processes and causes are inherently behind every explanatory theory. a. Fallacies b. Proofs c. Facts *d. Assumptions 2. “Philosophy” usually refers to each of the following, except a. values b. ways of thinking *c. logic d. an academic discipline 3. Which of the following best illustrates the work of a “philosopher of science”? a. studies how scientists behave in their endeavors *b. explores in abstract ways what science could be like c. analyzes the social organization of sciences d. monitors the rigor of scientific procedures 4. Which philosophy of science is best described as attempting to explain and predict events? *a. positivist b. interpretive c. critical d. analytical 5. Which philosophy of science is best described as focusing on emancipation and empowerment? a. positivist b. interpretive *c. critical d. analytical 6. Which philosophy of science is best described as promoting understanding and empathy? a. positivist *b. interpretive c. critical d. analytical 7. The idea that most family scholars today reject a highly relativistic position regarding scientific knowledge is called *a. pragmatic positivism b. absolutism c. positive realism d. arelativism 8. Which of the following is not a highly valued part of knowledge from a positivistic perspective? White, Family Theories 4e a. has distinct observable components b. general and law-like knowledge c. can be empirically replicated *d. contains personal meanings 9. Ideology means any of the following, except: a. the study of a set of beliefs *b. empirical validation c. a set of beliefs d. visionary speculation 10. When professions follow actions that are backed up by scientific findings, this is typically called a. proven anecdotes b. absolute rules *c. best practices d. reasonable reactions 11. A researcher hopes to discover a way to prevent divorce, hoping that fewer children will confront common challenges associated with divorce. This goal reflects which type of scientific value? a. epistemology *b. teleology c. applicology d. rationology 12. According to this model of scientific explanation, an explanation of something is derived from premises that include at least one general law-like statement and specific conditions. *a. covering law b. universalism c. causal model d. law-based reasoning 13. In which of the following eras was identifying conceptual frameworks the main theme of family theorizing? *a. 1950-1966 b. 1967-1979 c. 1980-1999 d. 2000-Present 14. In which of the following eras was a mixture of consensus and conflict over theory-building methods the main theme of family theorizing? a. 1950-1966 b. 1967-1979 c. 1980-1999 *d. 2000-Present 15. In which of the following eras was formal theory construction the main theme of family theorizing? a. 1950-1966 *b. 1967-1979 White, Family Theories 4e c. 1980-1999 d. 2000-Present 16. In which of the following eras was pluralism the main theme of family theorizing? a. 1950-1966 b. 1967-1979 *c. 1980-1999 d. 2000-Present 17. To help promote formal family theory construction, Wes Burr did all of the following except a. spearheaded two volumes based on propositions and general theories. b. proposed a section on theory within the National Council on Family Relations. *c. developed a family theory that reflected what was known about families at the time. d. help create a workshop on theory construction at an annual conference. 18. During its peak, pluralism was typically viewed as a sign of a. regression in scientific understanding. b. declining respect for a variety of perspectives and philosophies. c. unifying principles within family disciplines. *d. a fragmentation and specialization of scholarly interests. 19. Within this philosophy of science, it is generally accepted that objectivity is possible. *a. positivist b. interpretive c. critical d. analytical 20. Within this philosophy of science, subjective meaning attributed to events is central. a. positivist *b. interpretive c. critical d. analytical 21. Within this philosophy of science, emphasis is placed on who has control over shaping knowledge. a. positivist b. interpretive *c. critical d. analytical 22. Philosophers generally do not rely principally on empirical methods for giving credibility to their ideas. *a. True b. False 23. Historically speaking, philosophy has influenced all sciences except the physical sciences. a. True *b. False White, Family Theories 4e 24. “Pragmatic positivism” reflects the idea that most family scholars believe in absolute truth. a. True *b. False 25. The authors caution that ideologies may influence how family scholars respond to a theory but ideologies are not inherently within scientific theories themselves. *a. True b. False 26. Pragmatism suggests that the assumptions one has are linked to one’s purpose for scientific discovery. *a. True b. False 27. A major turning point in the development of family theory took place around 1950. *a. True b. False 28. In the modern era, the family scholarly community has become increasingly similar and is moving more and more in a single way of thinking about families. a. True *b. False 29. It is clear that trends toward pluralism in theory development and scholarship have become universally embraced today. a. True *b. False 30. If one does not fully embrace pluralism and post-modernism, one therefore assumes that absolute truth is knowable. a. True *b. False 31. Briefly compare and contrast the goals of family scientists who hold each of the following philosophies of science: positivistic, interpretive, and critical. a. Answer should include positivism being about explanation and prediction, interpretive about understanding and empathy, and critical about emancipation and empowerment. 32. Explain how a scientific theory can be useful to people with different ideologies. a. Answer should focus on how a theory is distinct from ideology, but can be used in a variety of ways to further differing agendas that promote specific outcomes. 33. Explain why the scientific method may fall short of establishing what is actually true. a. Answer should include issues of disproving rather than proving hypotheses, that there is no universal scientific method—it is not completely clear what makes knowledge scientific. 34. Explain why it appears that family theorizing will not result in “one grand theoretical scheme to explain everything about families.” White, Family Theories 4e a. Answer should include ideas about pluralism having become more popular, about the trend toward min-theories and narrowly-focused theories, about trends toward interpretive and critical philosophies over positivistic philosophy.