Impossibility of Proving a Theory

Alternative Theories Explaining the Same Hypothesis

What do researchers conclude when a systematic empirical study yields statistically significant results that are consistent with the hypothesis?

Arrange the logical steps a researcher takes to provide empirical support for a scientific theory in psychology.

A team of researchers is evaluating whether their latest study results provide empirical support for their respective theories. Match each researcher's outcome with the correct conclusion regarding the status of their theory.

A researcher investigating cognitive dissonance finds that their experimental data align with their hypothesis, but the results fail to achieve statistical significance. True or False: This outcome allows the researcher to conclude that the underlying theory is supported because the theory successfully accounted for the observed direction of the results.

When a systematic empirical study yields statistically significant results that are consistent with the hypothesis, the underlying theory's validity is strengthened because it has made an accurate prediction.

In psychological research, what does it mean when a researcher concludes that a scientific theory is 'supported' by the results of an empirical study?

A researcher is evaluating whether a systematic study provides sufficient grounds to conclude that a theory's validity has been strengthened. Even if the data aligns with the theory's predictions, the researcher must judge the theory to be _____ if the results fail to achieve statistical significance.