The prevailing explanation for the relationship between stress and illness has been that increased levels of stress result in a decrease in the immune system's ability to protect the body from illness. On the other hand, it is possible that people who are experiencing stress engage in more health-damaging behaviours, which can lead to a greater likelihood of illness. This different explanation of the relationship demonstrates the importance of
A)falsifiability.
B)ruling out rival hypotheses.
C)replicability.
D)extraordinary claims.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ruling out rival hypotheses is the best choice as it emphasizes the need to consider alternative explanations for the observed relationship between stress and illness. It encourages researchers to carefully design experiments that control for other factors that may influence the relationship, such as health behaviors or pre-existing health conditions.

The Prevailing Explanation for the Relationship Between Stress and Illness