Google

To illustrate how a theory can be updated rather than discarded, consider Robert Zajonc's work on social facilitation. Had Zajonc not observed social facilitation in cockroaches, he might not have rejected drive theory altogether. Instead, he could have adjusted the theory by adding a boundary condition, proposing that drive theory is valid but only applicable to organisms with highly developed nervous systems.

Example of Modifying a Theory

Rather than discarding a theory of social facilitation after observing the phenomenon in cockroaches, a researcher could modify the theory by adding a ____, proposing that the theory is valid but only applicable to organisms with highly developed nervous systems.

Learn Before

Related