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