Final answer:
The design of a study is crucial for determining the reliability and validity of its claims; therefore, the statement regarding the insignificance of study design in evaluating a claim is false. A robust study design typically involves a larger sample size, controlled variables, and unbiased reporting, which all contribute to the credibility of its conclusions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that 'The design of a study that is being offered as evidence should not matter in terms of your evaluation of the quality of the claim' is False. The design of a study greatly impacts the credibility and reliability of the results and therefore affects how we evaluate the quality of a claim. When a study is designed, several factors contribute to its strength, including control of variables, size and representativeness of the sample, and avoidance of biases.
A well-designed study, for example, would likely include a sufficient sample size, thus ensuring that the results are more generalizable to a larger population. Moreover, an experiment that rigorously controls variables can provide stronger claims about cause and effect. On the other hand, poor study designs may lead to incorrect conclusions, demonstrating the importance of critical evaluation of study design.
Looking at the other statements related to scientific methodology and evaluation, it can be deduced that larger sample sizes are better (True), data that does not support a hypothesis can still be useful (True), and experimentation is not the only valid type of scientific investigation (False). It's also important to note that a theory does not become a law over time; they remain distinct concepts in science. Therefore, the statement 'When a theory has been known for a long time, it becomes a law' is False.