Exam 2: Developing and Evaluating Theories of Behavior

A _____ is a set of program statements that define the variables to be considered and the ways in which their values will change over the course of time or trials.

According to the text, following a confirmational strategy to test a theory is important but has limitations. Which of the following is one of those limitations?

A theory that generates research, even if it is later proven wrong, is a parsimonious theory.

It is difficult to prove a theory correct because:

If you wanted to test a particular theory, what strategy would you use and why?

If a theory gives good reason to believe that a phenomenon would occur under the conditions specified by the theory, the theory is said to have:

Proposing a theory of motivation that likens motivational control systems to home heating systems is an example of a(n) _____ theory.

A good theory helps a researcher organize and understand the findings in a research area.

Freud's theory of personality gave us deep insight into the operation of the unconscious mind. This is an example of a theory:

Define what is meant by descriptive, analogical, and fundamental theories. What are the defining characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of each?

When data support your theory, it means that:

The best way to test theories is to use both confirmational and disconfirmational strategies together.

Theories should be developed even before a good base of empirical data exists.

_____ tell you how a system works without necessarily telling you why it does what it does.

Any theory that is not quantitative is qualitative.

An advantage of building a computer model to test a theory is that:

Most descriptive theories:

Hypotheses and theories differ in that hypotheses are:

_____ refer to the purpose or goal of a given attribute or system without describing how those purposes or goals are achieved.

Cognitive dissonance theory is an example of a theory with a limited domain.