Turning Knowledge claims into knowledge

questions
Knowledge questions are general and deal with concepts, methods, or applications. They come
in varying levels of detail. They are about knowledge, open-ended, and general.

Example 1 RLS: Future population growth in Africa

Not a knowledge question: How can we predict future population growth in Africa? This is not a
knowledge question because it is a technical question within the discipline of population studies.
Good knowledge question: How can a mathematical model give us knowledge even if it does
not yield accurate predictions? This is now sufficiently general and explores the purpose and
nature of mathematical modelling.
*what are the knowledge concepts dealt with in this KQ?
Example 2 RLS: The placebo effect and its impact on the medical profession
Not a knowledge question: How does the placebo effect work? An answer to this might involve
a technical explanation in psychology. This therefore sits above the line in figure 4.
A good knowledge question: How could we establish that X is an active ingredient in causing
Y? This question is actually a rather general one about how we can know about causal links. It
is a classic knowledge question.
*what are the knowledge concepts dealt with in this KQ?

Think of a camera lens zooming in on a subject.

Birds Eye View (most general): How do I know? is the knowledge question floating above
everything we do in TOK.
Zooming in: Dealing with scope and application of knowledge (AOK) and comparisons within.
EX: How do we gain knowledge? How do we test it? Why do we accept or reject scientific
claims? How does methodology change as subject matter changes? How does knowledge
acquisition differ in the human sciences versus natural sciences?
Zooming in: Getting deeper into certain AOK. EX: How does knowledge acquisition differ in
anthropology versus economics?
Close up: Identifies the knowledge concepts and issues. Particular theories and methods of
investigation. EX: What characterizes the method of participant observation? What are its
advantages and difficulties in gaining knowledge?
It might be easier to start with a close-up and then zoom out.

Example: I know that a Spanish explorer discovered Argentina in the early 16th century.
Close up: What evidence (reason for belief) is available for the date of discovery?
Zooming out: From whose perspective was Argentina discovered?
Birds eye: How do perspectives influence interpretations in history?
Example: I know that God created the world.
Close up: What evidence can be put forward for knowledge of an invisible supernatural being?
Zooming out: What is faith and what is its role in the acceptance or rejection of knowledge
claims?
Birds eye: What is the difference between knowledge and belief?

When you create a TOK presentation, you will have to develop your own KQ based on a real life
situation. The best kind of KQ will be a zoomed out, or birds eye view question which will lend
itself to exploration in other areas of knowledge.

TRY IT! Choose one of the claims to develop a series of

KQs for.
I know that Brazils economy is stronger than Argentinas.
I know that atoms have protons and electrons.
I know that tomorrow morning the sun will rise.
I know that my girlfriend Beyonce is sexy.
I know my home city of Bangkok very well.