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Steps, Stages, and Structure: Finding Compensatory Order in Scientific Theories
- Source :
-
Journal of Experimental Psychology: General . May 2013 142(2):313-318. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Stage theories are prominent and controversial in science. One possible reason for their appeal is that they provide order and predictability. Participants in Experiment 1 rated stage theories as more orderly and predictable (but less credible) than continuum theories. In Experiments 2-5, we showed that order threats increase the appeal of stage theories of grief (Experiment 2) and moral development (Experiments 4 and 5). Experiment 3 yielded similar results for a stage theory on Alzheimer's disease characterized by predictable decline, suggesting that preference for stage theories is independent of valence. Experiment 4 showed that the effect of threat on theory preference was mediated by the motivated perception of order, and Experiment 5 revealed that it is particularly the fixed order of stages that increases their appeal. (Contains 4 tables and 6 footnotes.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0096-3445
- Volume :
- 142
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- ERIC
- Journal :
- Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- EJ1008119
- Document Type :
- Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028716