According to the principles of actual scientific practice, describe the three specific reasons why researchers do not immediately abandon a theory when a single hypothesis is disconfirmed.
Question: According to the principles of actual scientific practice, describe the three specific reasons why researchers do not immediately abandon a theory when a single hypothesis is disconfirmed.
Sample answer: Researchers typically do not abandon a theory after a single disconfirmed hypothesis for three main reasons. First, the disconfirmation could simply be a Type II error, meaning the researcher missed an effect that actually exists. Second, the result could stem from a flawed research design, such as variables that were not properly manipulated or measured. Finally, the disconfirmation might indicate that a relatively minor, unstated assumption of the theory was not met, rather than the core theory being entirely wrong.
Key points:
- A single disconfirmation could be the result of a Type II error.
- The disconfirmation could result from a flawed research design involving improperly manipulated or measured variables.
- The disconfirmation might indicate that a relatively minor, unstated assumption of the theory was not met.
Rubric: Full credit is awarded if the student correctly identifies and describes all three reasons mentioned in the text. Partial credit is given for each correct reason.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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