Essay

Describe the everyday example of the method of authority involving morning routines as detailed in the text. In your description, define the method of authority and recall the three specific limitations or reasons why we should not unconditionally trust knowledge obtained from such sources.

Question: Describe the everyday example of the method of authority involving morning routines as detailed in the text. In your description, define the method of authority and recall the three specific limitations or reasons why we should not unconditionally trust knowledge obtained from such sources.

Sample answer: The everyday example involves believing that you should make your bed in the morning simply because a parent (an authority figure) instructed you to do so. The method of authority is a way of accepting knowledge based on authoritative sources. The three general limitations of this method are that the authority figures may be wrong, they may be relying on intuition to reach conclusions, or they may have their own reasons to mislead you.

Key points:

  • The method of authority involves accepting knowledge because an authority figure claims it is true.
  • An everyday example is making one's bed simply because a mother or father instructed it.
  • One limitation is that authority figures may be wrong.
  • Another limitation is that they may be using intuition to arrive at conclusions.
  • A third limitation is that they may have their own reasons to mislead you.

Rubric: Grading criteria: 1 point for identifying the bed-making example and defining the method of authority. 3 points (1 point for each) for listing the three limitations: (1) they may be wrong, (2) they may use intuition, and (3) they may have reasons to mislead.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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