180

SELF SURVEY

Below are cases involving the contrasting views of two fictional characters: Jose and
Pablo. Read the cases and the questions following them. For every item, choose the
response that best expresses your response to the question by putting an X in the
appropriate box. Please note that there is no right or wrong answer.

1. Jose believes that Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
one mathematician’s some rightness?
proof of the math
formula is right. (A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
(B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
Pablo believes that
another If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
mathematician’s right than the other?
proof of the math
formula is right. (A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.

2. Jose believes that Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
the universe was some rightness?
created by a
Supernatural Being or (A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
Power. (B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE

Pablo believes in a If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
different version of right than the other?
how the universe
began. (A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.
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3. Jose thinks the first Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
piece of music they some rightness?
listened to is better.
(A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
Pablo thinks the (B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
second piece of
music they listened to If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
is better. right than the other?

(A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.

4. Jose has one view Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
of why criminals keep some rightness?
going back to crime.
(A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
Pablo has a different (B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
view of why criminals
keep going back to If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
crime. right than the other?

(A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.

5. Jose accepts one Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
book’s explanation of some rightness?
how the brain works.
(A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
Pablo believes (B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
another book’s
explanation of how If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
the brain works. right than the other?

(A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.
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6. Jose thinks lying is Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
wrong. some rightness?

Pablo thinks lying is (A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT

permissible in certain (B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
situations.
If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
right than the other?

(A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.

7. Jose thinks the first Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
book they both read some rightness?
is better.
(A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
Pablo thinks the (B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
second book they
both read is better. If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
right than the other?

(A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.

8. Jose agrees with Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
one book’s some rightness?
explanation of how
children learn (A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
language. (B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE

Pablo agrees with If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
another book’s right than the other?
explanation of how
children learn (A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
language. (B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.
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9. Jose thinks people Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
should take some rightness?
responsibility for
themselves. (A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
(B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
Pablo thinks people
should work together If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
to take care of each right than the other?
other.
(A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.

10. Jose thinks the Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
first painting they some rightness?
looked at is beautiful.
(A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
Pablo thinks the (B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
second painting they
looked at is beautiful. If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
right than the other?

(A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.

11. Jose thinks the Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
government should some rightness?
limit the number of
children families are (A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
allowed to have to (B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
keep the population
from getting too big. If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
right than the other?
Pablo thinks families
should have as many (A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
children as they (B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
choose. other.
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12. Jose thinks one Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
book’s explanation of some rightness?
why World War II
began is right. (A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
(B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
Pablo thinks another
book’s explanation of If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
why World War II right than the other?
began is right.
(A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.

13. Jose believes in Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
life after death. some rightness?

Pablo has a different (A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT

belief about what (B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
happens after death.
If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
right than the other?

(A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.

14. Jose believes one Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
book’s explanation of some rightness?
what atoms are made
up of. (A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT
(B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE
Pablo believes
another book’s If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more
explanation of what right than the other?
atoms are made up
of. (A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.
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15. Jose believes that Can only one of their views be right, or could both have
God exists. some rightness?

Pablo has a different (A) ONLY ONE OF THE VIEWS IS RIGHT

belief on the subject. (B) BOTH VIEWS CAN BE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE

If your answer is (B): Can one view be better or more

right than the other?

(A) YES, one view CAN be more right than the other.
(B) NO, one view CANNOT be more right than the
other.

This survey instrument was adapted and used with permission from Kuhn, D., Cheney,
R., & Weinstock, M., (2000), found in The development of epistemological
understanding, Cognitive Development 15(3), 309-328.