1. When Kyle is mad, he spits at other students in the class.
This sentence is an explanatory fiction because the first clause “Kyle is mad,” does not show causality with respect to spitting at other students. The statement is fictional because spitting is a type of anger. Thus, the statement re-states “effect” as “cause”. Moreover, the statement does not specify what makes Kyle mad in the first place.
2. Brad gets anxious in class because he has OCD.
This sentence is an explanatory fiction because it simply states a symptom of OCD, anxiety. Such a statement is causal, and serves only as an explanatory fiction because it does not relate “cause” to “effect”. Instead, the statement is not testable, as anxiety is a symptom of OCD. There could be many other reasons for his anxiety, and OCD can never be ruled out as an independent variable, as it cannot be manipulated (Schmied, 2009).
3. When the teacher gives corrections for a paper, Kelsey overreacts.
This statement is a testable explanation because it relates a cause (giving corrections) to an effect, Kelsey’s overreaction. Thus, it is testable by manipulating what other things the teacher can do, and observing Kelsey’s reaction (Schmied, 2009).
4. When Rob is given one assignment at a time, he completes all of his work.
This statement is also a testable explanation, and it can be tested by seeing what Rob does if he is given more than one assignment, and observing whether he completes all of the work. Thus, the statement contains an “if-then-because format” (Schmied, 2009).
5. Carter yells at the teacher when she gives him homework.
This statement is a testable explanation because it can be tested by not giving Carter homework. Does Carter still yell? Thus, if one change is made, an effect, or behavior can be observed.
6. When asked to follow directions in front of friends, Lilly refuses and throws toys.
This statement is also a testable explanation. Thus, the explanation can be tested by observing what Lilly does when she is asked to follow directions when she is not in front of friends. This is a test that can link the cause to effect, instead of re-stating the cause as effect.
7. Kyle paces around the house because he has autism.
This statement is an explanatory fiction. As pacing is a part of autism, the effect, “pacing”, in essence, re-states an aspect of autism. This statement is an explanatory fiction because it can never be ruled out that autism is the only cause of Kyle’s pacing, as autism cannot be manipulated (Schmied, 2009). The statement merely re-states the cause, as effect.
8. If given candy before the lesson starts, Lilly will sit quietly for at least 45 minutes.
This statement is testable because Lilly’s behavior can be observed by withholding candy before the lesson begins, and her subsequent behavior can be hypothesized and observed (Schmied, 2009).
References
Schmied, J. (2009). Scientific method index. Retrieved 27 May, 2016 from
http://www.goscienceseven.com/SciMethod/scientificdefinations.html
