Outcome Satisfied Outcome Not Satisfied Outcome Inconclusive The

Outcome: Satisfied ≡ Outcome: Not Satisfied ≡ Outcome: Inconclusive ≡ The theory is deemed to conclusively meet the requirements of the method employed at the time. The theory is deemed to conclusively not meet the requirements of the method employed at the time. It is unclear whether or not the requirements of the method employed at the time are met.

Assessment Outcomes Theory Acceptance/Unacceptance Satisfied Acceptance Not Satisfied Unacceptance Inconclusive Mosaic Split

Assessment Outcomes Theory Acceptance/Unacceptance Satisfied ? Acceptance Not Satisfied ? Unacceptance Inconclusive ? Mosaic Split The causal relations between assessment outcomes and theory acceptance/unacceptance are not specified by the current second law.

2 nd Law: Theory Acceptance If a theory satisfies the acceptance criteria of the method employed at the time, it becomes accepted into the mosaic; if it does not, it remains unaccepted; if assessment is inconclusive, theory can be accepted or not accepted.

Assessment Outcomes Theory Acceptance/Unacceptance Satisfied Acceptance Not Satisfied Unacceptance Inconclusive Mosaic Split The new second law specifies the causal relationships between assessment outcomes and theory acceptance/unacceptance. Among other things, it shows that if the assessment outcome is inconclusive any one of the three scenarios is a possibility.

Assessment Outcomes Theory Acceptance/Unacceptance Satisfied Acceptance Not Satisfied Unacceptance Inconclusive Mosaic Split The new second law forbids the following four logical possibilities: • Satisfied → Unacceptance • Satisfied → Mosaic Split • Not Satisfied → Acceptance • Not Satisfied → Mosaic Split

Employed Method ≡ A method is said to be employed if its requirements constitute the actual expectations of the community.

Inferred Assessment Outcomes Theory Acceptance/ Unacceptance Satisfied Not Satisfied Inconclusive T 1 Accepted Possible Impossible Possible T 1 Unaccepted Impossible Possible Mosaic Split Occurred Impossible Necessary

Theory Acceptance/ Unacceptance Both Unaccepted Inferred Assessment Outcomes T 1 Satisfied T 2 Satisfied Impossible Only T 1 Accepted Possible Only T 2 Accepted Impossible T 1 Not Satisfied T 2 Not Satisfied T 1 Inconcl. T 2 Inconcl. Possible Possible Impossible Possible Necessary Possible Impossible Possible Necessary Impossible Possible T 0 - T 1 Split Occurred Impossible T 0 - T 2 Split Occurred Impossible T 1 - T 2 Split Occurred Possible