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Based on the provided context, identify the specific process the psychologist used to develop the new theory from their daycare observations, and state its definition in the empirical sciences.

Case context: A developmental psychologist observes five infants in a daycare setting and notes that they all mimic their caregivers' facial expressions. Based on these specific, real-world observations, the psychologist drafts a new theory of early social learning. Later, the psychologist plans to generate specific hypotheses from this theory to test them in a controlled laboratory setting.

Question: Based on the provided context, identify the specific process the psychologist used to develop the new theory from their daycare observations, and state its definition in the empirical sciences.

Sample answer: The psychologist used inductive reasoning. In the empirical sciences, inductive reasoning is defined as the process of developing new ideas/hypotheses from particular real-world facts and observations.

Key points:

  • Identifies the process as inductive reasoning.
  • Recalls that it involves developing new ideas or hypotheses.
  • Recalls that it starts from particular real-world facts and observations.

Rubric: The learner must identify 'inductive reasoning' and recall its definition: the process of developing new ideas/hypotheses from particular real-world facts and observations.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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