The Aim of an Experiment Is Not to Prove That

question 407

Multiple Choice

The aim of an experiment is not to prove that a hypothesis is correct. Rather, the aim is to demonstrate that it is highly probable that the hypothesis is correct. Researchers ask the question in the following way: "What is the probability that the results I have obtained could have been found by chance alone?" Hence, social psychology, like most other sciences, deals with probabilities rather than absolutes. Stephen Worchel, et al., Understanding Social Psychology, 5^th edition

• A) Argument; conclusion: Researchers ask the question ... chance alone"
• B) Argument; conclusion: Social psychology ... probabilities rather than absolutes.
• C) Argument; conclusion: Rather, the aim ... probable that the hypothesis is correct.
• D) Argument; conclusion: The aim of an experiment ... the hypothesis is correct.
• E) Nonargument.