{"id":9609,"date":"2017-10-19T05:55:23","date_gmt":"2017-10-18T20:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ibpsych.themantic-education.com\/?p=9609"},"modified":"2017-10-19T05:55:23","modified_gmt":"2017-10-18T20:55:23","slug":"to-prove-or-not-to-prove-that-is-the-question","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/2017\/10\/19\/to-prove-or-not-to-prove-that-is-the-question\/","title":{"rendered":"To prove or not to prove, that is the question."},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a follow-up to the popular post, “why we rarely use the word ‘prove’ in psychology.”<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In their first months of studying psychology students love to use the word “prove” when explaining studies. This drives teachers and examiners nuts! But instead of making a blanket rule in class like “you’re never to use the word prove!” I like to get students to understand when and why it’s incorrect to use this term. But I think it’s equally important to know when it’s OK as well.<\/p>\n

\n

One study doesn’t prove<\/em> anything!<\/h2>\n

The common phrase from students in the explanation of a study is something like “This study proves that…”<\/p>\n

But here’s the problem: it’s just one study. In order to prove something you need really convincing evidence. It would be like a witness to a murder saying “there’s the man that did it” and the judge saying “well, that proves it then.” There isn’t enough evidence to jump to such a bold conclusion.<\/p>\n

As I said in an earlier post, there are lots of things to consider:<\/p>\n