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Four levels of functional specificity of theoretical propositions, from non-causal association to functionally specified causal effects

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The article proposes that propositions differ in specificity, which determines their falsifiability. Table 1 depicts four levels: non-causal association, weak causal effect, moderate causal effect with specified direction, and strong causal effect with a defined functional form. The author notes that "almost all propositions of the motivation theories addressed are located on Levels 1–3" and argues that moving to Level 4 would make contradictions between theories and between theory and evidence easier to detect.

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  • Four levels of functional specificity of theoretical propositions, from non-causal association to functionally specified causal effects: The article proposes that propositions differ in specificity, which determines their falsifiability. Table 1 depicts four levels: non-causal association, weak causal effect, moderate causal effect with specified direction, and strong causal effect with a defined functional form. The author notes that "almost all propositions of the motivation theories addressed are located on Levels 1–3" and argues that moving to Level 4 would make contradictions between theories and between theory and evidence easier to detect. (Reinhard Pekrun (2024))

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Key Sources

  • Reinhard Pekrun. (2024). Overcoming Fragmentation in Motivation Science: Why, When, and How Should We Integrate Theories? Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-024-09846-5
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type research-method
id four-levels-of-functional-specificity-of-theoretical-propositions-from-non-causal-associat
title Four levels of functional specificity of theoretical propositions, from non-causal association to functionally specified causal effects
description The article proposes that propositions differ in specificity, which determines their falsifiability.
status review
generated by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-22
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