Which principle states that scientific explanations should be as simple as possible, preferring the simplest explanation?

Which principle states that scientific explanations should be as simple as possible, preferring the simplest explanation?

• A. Empiricism
• B. Determinism
• C. Parsimony
• D. Stimulus Equivalence

Answer: (C)

Parsimony, often expressed as Occam’s razor in science, asks us to prefer the simplest explanation that can account for the observed data. It guides us to use the fewest assumptions necessary and to avoid adding unneeded complexity unless the data require it. In practice, when several explanations fit a behavioral pattern, the one that makes the fewest additional assumptions and generalizes best is preferred because it’s easier to test and less prone to error. Empiricism focuses on using observable evidence, determinism is about events having causes, and stimulus equivalence deals with derived relations among stimuli; none of these explicitly emphasize choosing the simplest useful explanation. So the principle described here is parsimony.

Parsimony, often expressed as Occam’s razor in science, asks us to prefer the simplest explanation that can account for the observed data. It guides us to use the fewest assumptions necessary and to avoid adding unneeded complexity unless the data require it. In practice, when several explanations fit a behavioral pattern, the one that makes the fewest additional assumptions and generalizes best is preferred because it’s easier to test and less prone to error. Empiricism focuses on using observable evidence, determinism is about events having causes, and stimulus equivalence deals with derived relations among stimuli; none of these explicitly emphasize choosing the simplest useful explanation. So the principle described here is parsimony.