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Evaluation of Scientific Theories
In the scientific process, theories are continuously evaluated through the testing of hypotheses. Theories that consistently stand up to empirical testing are retained and further refined, while those that do not are either modified or completely discarded.
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Hypothesis
Evaluation of Scientific Theories
Zajonc's Drive Theory
Habituation Theory
Number-of-Examples Theory
Ease-of-Retrieval Theory
Post-Hoc Theory Explanation Approach
Benefits of Using Established Theories
Which of the following best describes the nature of a scientific theory?
In psychological research, scientific theories are used to interpret data. Match each element of scientific inquiry with the role it plays in the development of a theory.
A psychologist observes that people are more likely to remember the first and last items in a list. To explain this, the researcher proposes 'memory buffers'—unobserved structures that temporarily hold information. In the context of psychological research, this coherent explanation is considered a scientific theory, regardless of whether it is a brand-new untested interpretation or a well-supported model.
A psychological researcher is constructing a scientific theory to explain how social support influences physical health. Based on the structural components of a theory, arrange the following elements of their work in the correct logical order, starting from the directly observed evidence and moving toward the abstract interpretive framework.
Suppose you are building a new scientific theory to explain the observation that people perform better on simple tasks when others are watching. Which of the following combinations of elements represents the successful creation of a theory rather than just a descriptive summary of data?
In psychological research, a coherent explanation of a phenomenon must be thoroughly tested and accepted by the scientific community before it can be classified as a scientific theory.
A researcher develops an explanation for a psychological phenomenon by incorporating unobserved internal processes. A student evaluates this proposal and claims it should not be labeled a 'scientific theory' because it has not yet been rigorously tested. This evaluation is incorrect because the scientific definition of a theory refers to the nature of the explanation itself, not the current level of empirical _____.
A developmental psychologist wants to explain why infants learn language faster than adults. Apply the concepts of a scientific theory to this research scenario by matching each description with the correct component or status of a theory.
In psychological research, a researcher explains a set of behavioral observations by postulating a cognitive process that cannot be directly observed. If this explanation has not yet been subjected to empirical testing, it is still classified under the scientific method as a(n) _____ theory.
A research committee is evaluating several explanations for how social media usage affects sleep quality. Order the stages of a scientific theory's lifecycle from the lowest level of empirical support to the highest level of empirical support and scientific consensus.