How much do you know about science topics?

[GordMay]

There’s a science quiz from Pew Research Center.
Test your knowledge of science facts and applications of scientific principles by taking our 11-question quiz. When you finish, you will be able to compare your scores with the average American and compare responses across demographic groups. Our nationally representative poll of 4,464 randomly selected U.S. adults was conducted on Pew Research Center's American Trends Panel between Jan. 7 and Jan. 21, 2019. The analysis of the findings from the poll can be found in the full report, “What Americans Know About Science.”
Quiz ➥ https://www.pewresearch.org/science/...nowledge-quiz/
Report ➥ https://www.pewresearch.org/science/...about-science/

FWIW: I did as well as 16% of participants.

[tkeithlu]

.............wait for it...........


Welcome to the forum, Gord.


Nice quiz. Being a retired scientist, I would have been embarrassed to not get 11/11. Ditto to your score, but I think you meant that you did better than 84%. The question about deforestration bordered on tricky.

Gord wins the prize for the widest range of detailed, specific answers to posts.

[S/V Illusion]

If I can score 100%, anyone can

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by GordMay

...
FWIW: I did as well as 16% of participants.

I'm with you, but science instruction was my life's vocation. 'fun, thanks for sharing.

[Chotu]

Also same as 16% of participants.

It's unfortunate it wasn't a bit more difficult so the 16% could be teased out a bit.

[rabbi]

The quiz is a joke but the report needs a politically correct re-write.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

If I can score 100%, anyone can

And yet, sadly, 84% of respondents didn't/couldn't.

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by GordMay

There’s a science quiz from Pew Research Center.
Test your knowledge of science facts and applications of scientific principles by taking our 11-question quiz. When you finish, you will be able to compare your scores with the average American and compare responses across demographic groups. Our nationally representative poll of 4,464 randomly selected U.S. adults was conducted on Pew Research Center's American Trends Panel between Jan. 7 and Jan. 21, 2019. The analysis of the findings from the poll can be found in the full report, “What Americans Know About Science.”
Quiz ➥ https://www.pewresearch.org/science/...nowledge-quiz/
Report ➥ https://www.pewresearch.org/science/...about-science/

FWIW: I did as well as 16% of participants.

Right On!

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Chotu

...It's unfortunate it wasn't a bit more difficult so the 16% could be teased out a bit.

Are You a Science Genius?
With the popularity of Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye and Chris Hadfield, science geniuses are becoming well-known icons. Are you smart enough to hang with these science superstars? Take this test to find out – only 5% of people have passed!
➥ https://grizly.com/quizzes/this-is-t...ill-take-today

FWIW: I (barely) passed.

[CaptTom]

One observation from long experience giving exams to adult learners who've long since forgotten the techniques of taking them:

I wonder how many people knew the right answer but (1) didn't read the entire question, or (2) didn't click on the answer before clicking "next."

For the vast majority of wrong answers I've seen, when the student sees the question, they slap their forehead and say "I knew that! I just messed up answering because..."

I'll admit, however, it's scary the number of people I know who would struggle with the content of this exam, not just the mechanics.

[tkeithlu]

Regarding the test being easy.

OK, I'm an experimental psycholgist with at least teaching experience in survey design.

This is a very well designed test. It does not have virtually everyone scoring 100% (16% did) nor everyone failing. It is centered on 50% correct. Whoever designed it did very good work. She (today, women dominate experimental psychology PhDs) probably tested the test against a small sample population before going to the for real population.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

One observation from long experience giving exams to adult learners who've long since forgotten the techniques of taking them:

I wonder how many people knew the right answer but (1) didn't read the entire question, or (2) didn't click on the answer before clicking "next."

For the vast majority of wrong answers I've seen, when the student sees the question, they slap their forehead and say "I knew that! I just messed up answering because..."

That's a very good point! There's a technique to taking different types of tests, and it's surprising how well you can do by remaining calm, reading carefully, saying the answers almost out loud as you ponder them...


My approach to multiple choice tests is:

1. Read the instructions carefully
2. Read them again, and strategize what areas could give you the most value, and how you plan on allocating your time
3. I like starting with the easiest section if there is one
4. Read a question:
   • if you are certain of the answer, mark it and move on
   • if you are uncertain
     1. stroke out the answers that are obviously wrong
     2. ponder the remaining, try to find the best fitting answer
     3. if you're stuck after a minute, note the question number and plan to come back to it (if the test mechanism allows)
5. After going through the exam once, go back to the ones you were stuck on. Chances are, you will now be unstuck, or the rest of the exam gave you some hints or reminders to help

Having said all that... no I'm not taking those tests and posting results. In my mind I'm a genius; I don't need any counterfactuals to mess that up.

[Eigenvector]

I scraped by, Biology type stuff isn't my strong suit.

[Sailmonkey]

Well, I got them all correct. And I’d by no stretch consider myself a genius.

[AiniA]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

That's a very good point! There's a technique to taking different types of tests, and it's surprising how well you can do by remaining calm, reading carefully, saying the answers almost out loud as you ponder them...


My approach to multiple choice tests is:

1. Read the instructions carefully
2. Read them again, and strategize what areas could give you the most value, and how you plan on allocating your time
3. I like starting with the easiest section if there is one
4. Read a question:
   • if you are certain of the answer, mark it and move on
   • if you are uncertain
     1. stroke out the answers that are obviously wrong
     2. ponder the remaining, try to find the best fitting answer
     3. if you're stuck after a minute, note the question number and plan to come back to it (if the test mechanism allows)
5. After going through the exam once, go back to the ones you were stuck on. Chances are, you will now be unstuck, or the rest of the exam gave you some hints or reminders to help

Having said all that... no I'm not taking those tests and posting results. In my mind I'm a genius; I don't need any counterfactuals to mess that up.

A few things come to mind from my teaching experience. If a test has not been developed very carefully - choose the longest answer. Test creators tend to be more exact in wording for right answers than wrong answers. If a random number generator has not been used c) tends to be the most common correct answer. Do not change an answer you have chosen unless you have a really compelling reason to do so. First reactions to a question tend to be correct.

BTW, I did well with both tests. If I could have gotten a job writing tests and doing trivia contests I would be much richer today.