Evaluating Conflicting Viewpoints - ACT Science
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What does “conflicting viewpoints” mean on the ACT Science test?
What does “conflicting viewpoints” mean on the ACT Science test?
Two or more scientists disagree about how to explain the same scientific idea or data.
Two or more scientists disagree about how to explain the same scientific idea or data.
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What is the main goal of conflicting viewpoints passages?
What is the main goal of conflicting viewpoints passages?
To compare and evaluate different explanations or hypotheses.
To compare and evaluate different explanations or hypotheses.
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What should you focus on when reading conflicting viewpoints?
What should you focus on when reading conflicting viewpoints?
Each scientist’s main claim and the evidence they use to support it.
Each scientist’s main claim and the evidence they use to support it.
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What is a claim?
What is a claim?
A statement or belief a scientist makes about how or why something happens.
A statement or belief a scientist makes about how or why something happens.
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What is evidence?
What is evidence?
Facts or data that support a scientist’s claim.
Facts or data that support a scientist’s claim.
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What is reasoning?
What is reasoning?
The logical explanation that connects the evidence to the claim.
The logical explanation that connects the evidence to the claim.
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What is an assumption?
What is an assumption?
Something a scientist believes to be true without direct proof.
Something a scientist believes to be true without direct proof.
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What is bias?
What is bias?
A preference or viewpoint that can unfairly influence interpretation of data.
A preference or viewpoint that can unfairly influence interpretation of data.
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How do you find a point of agreement?
How do you find a point of agreement?
Look for statements where both scientists express the same idea or result.
Look for statements where both scientists express the same idea or result.
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How do you find a point of disagreement?
How do you find a point of disagreement?
Identify statements where scientists draw opposite conclusions or explain data differently.
Identify statements where scientists draw opposite conclusions or explain data differently.
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What does it mean when two scientists use the same data but reach different conclusions?
What does it mean when two scientists use the same data but reach different conclusions?
They interpret the data differently or have different assumptions.
They interpret the data differently or have different assumptions.
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What is correlation?
What is correlation?
When two variables change together but one does not necessarily cause the other.
When two variables change together but one does not necessarily cause the other.
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What is causation?
What is causation?
When one variable directly causes a change in another.
When one variable directly causes a change in another.
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Why is it important to separate correlation from causation?
Why is it important to separate correlation from causation?
Because scientists may agree data is related but disagree about what causes what.
Because scientists may agree data is related but disagree about what causes what.
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What question should you ask when comparing two arguments?
What question should you ask when comparing two arguments?
What does each scientist think is the main cause or explanation?
What does each scientist think is the main cause or explanation?
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What should you do first when reading a conflicting viewpoints passage?
What should you do first when reading a conflicting viewpoints passage?
Identify how many scientists or theories are being compared.
Identify how many scientists or theories are being compared.
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What should you look for in each viewpoint?
What should you look for in each viewpoint?
The claim, the reasoning, and the evidence
The claim, the reasoning, and the evidence
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What kind of language signals a disagreement?
What kind of language signals a disagreement?
Words like “however," "in contrast," or "unlike"
Words like “however," "in contrast," or "unlike"
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What does “supported by evidence” mean?
What does “supported by evidence” mean?
The data or observations agree with the claim or prediction.
The data or observations agree with the claim or prediction.
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What does “contradicted by evidence” mean?
What does “contradicted by evidence” mean?
The data or observations disagree with the claim.
The data or observations disagree with the claim.
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