In cognitive psychology, which principle suggests that a speaker should aim to be simple, rather than complex, when communicating information?

• A. The principle of dual coding
• B. The principle of elaboration
• C. The principle of cognitive dissonance
• D. The principle of parsimony

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of the question, which is about principles in cognitive psychology related to communication and information processing.
2. Step 2: Review the definitions of each principle mentioned: the principle of dual coding involves using both verbal and visual information; the principle of elaboration involves adding details to enhance memory; the principle of cognitive dissonance relates to the discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs.
3. Step 3: Recognize that the principle of parsimony, also known as Occam's Razor in psychology, suggests that explanations or communications should be as simple as possible, avoiding unnecessary complexity.
4. Step 4: Connect the principle of parsimony to the idea that a speaker should aim to be simple rather than complex when communicating information, making it the best fit for the question.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the principle of parsimony is the correct answer because it emphasizes simplicity in communication, which aligns with the question's focus.