A set of general principles used to explain observed facts. No theory is completely true. All theories fail to explain something. Theories are seldom useful for making predictions. Match the function of theory with the following examples.
Theory acts as a guide for collecting further observations.
From their knowledge of reinforcement schedules, a group of military researchers increased a radar operator's attention by having a computer deliberately introduce false blips on the screen at varying intervals of time. The formulation of the theory for the teaching machine, by B. F. Skinner, incited investigations of issues such as how active responding affects learning, the effects of immediate knowledge of results, and so on. The U.S. government would like to help a small Caribbean republic to develop an almost barren coral island into productive farmland. The principal problem is that the citizens of this republic have little experience or interest in farming. A psychologist is called in to design an incentive system that would encourage local citizens to become farmers.