method of exclusion

a principle by which empirical observation can eliminate (or exclude) possible causes for a phenomenon and thereby reach conclusions about the true cause. The principle is attributed to Francis Bacon, who proposed an inductive method (see induction) in which the observer lists both positive and negative instances of a phenomenon and then attempts to infer a common factor that is present in the positive instances and absent in the negative instances. Thus, the cause of the phenomenon is established by a method of exclusion of negative instances. See Baconian method. See also Mill’s canons.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

slow-wave sleep

deep sleep that is characterized by increasing percentages of particular types of delta waves on the electroencephalogram, corresponding to Stages 3 and 4 of NREM sleep. See also sleep stages.