Both James and Thomas have theories that explain why listening to classical music while reading is associated with increased recall of the material.James's theory is much simpler than Thomas's.Thomas created his theory a few months before James did.Which of the following is true?
A) James's theory would be considered better because it is more parsimonious.
B) James's theory would be considered better because it was thought of more recently.
C) Thomas's theory would be considered better because he thought of it first.
D) Thomas's theory would be considered better because it is more complex.
E) James's and Thomas's theories should be considered equal.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Parsimony is the scientific principle that favors the simplest explanation that accounts for all the facts. Since James's theory is simpler, it would be considered better than Thomas's theory, which is more complex. The fact that Thomas created his theory first is irrelevant.

Both James and Thomas Have Theories That Explain Why Listening