Question

One biologist believes that the dinosaurs were destroyed by floods. One astronomer believes that comets and meteorites which struck Earth made dinosaurs extinct. Which of these statements best explains why the biologist and astronomer have different views about dinosaurs?

Scientific views are influenced by the scientists' background.

Data gives different results when tested at different periods of time.

Data associated with natural phenomenon change from time to time.

Scientists working with different sets of data arrive at different results.

Answer 1

Use process of elimination. Two of these are obviously silly options - which do you think are not the correct answer?

Answer 2

Data gives different results when tested at different periods of time.

Data associated with natural phenomenon change from time to time.

Answer 3

Yes, I agree.

As for the other two options, I'd have to say that in real life, they are both equally good. Scientists are influenced by our backgrounds and our training - we are raised with certain intellectual expectations and understandings to which we cling, even when it obliges us to place a less logical or objective interpretation on our data.

But in an ideal world, background would not influence how an individual scientist analyzes his or her data. Whereas scientists working with different data often and quite logically arrive at different results.

Answer 4

i would say the different data would get different results

Answer 5

Ah yes, I agree with that. Ideally. But as I said, in the real world the other choice would be as equally strong. And in my opinion it is a mistake to train students to ignore it as a source of dispute among different scientists.