Lexic.us

Definition of Trial-and-error

1. Adjective. Trying out various means or theories until error is satisfactorily reduced or eliminated. "He argued that all learning is a trial-and-error process that resembles biological evolution"

2. Adjective. Relating to solving problems by experience rather than theory. "They adopted a trial-and-error procedure"

Lexicographical Neighbors of Trial-and-error

triadism triadisms triadist triadists triads triage triaged triages triaging triakisoctahedra

triakisoctahedron triakisoctahedrons triakontadipole triakontadipoles trial trial-and-error (current term) trial and error trial attorney trial balance trial balances

trial balloon trial balloons trial base trial by fire trial by ordeal trial case trial court trial denture trial frame trial impression

Literary usage of Trial-and-error

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Human Behavior: A First Book in Psychology for Teachers by Stephen Sheldon Colvin, William Chandler Bagley (1913)
"Find in your own experience an example of the "trial-and- error" method of ... In what sense does " trial and error" still persist, even though "free ideas" ..."

2. Experiments in Educational Psychology by Daniel Starch (1917)
"By trial and error, that is, by making random attempts until by chance some attempts are ... The most fundamental of these is the trial and error method. ..."

3. Mind in Evolution by Leonard Trelawney Hobhouse (1901)
"THE METHOD OF TRIAL AND ERROR WE have now to ask whether there is any evidence that this stage of intelligence is attained by any animals other than man. 1. ..."

4. The Learning Process by Stephen Sheldon Colvin (1911)
"The primitive method of learning in the case of a child is the simple method of trial and error. Imitation in its various forms plays an important rôle, ..."

5. The Next Step: A Plan for Economic World Federation by Scott Nearing (1922)
"Trying Things Out A SOCIETY, like the individuals of which it is composed, learns first by trial and error. The earliest lessons that the human race ..."

6. An Introduction to High School Teaching by Stephen Sheldon Colvin (1917)
"Methods of Restricting the Field of Trial and Error in Learning. — It is the problem of the teacher in guiding the pupil to master correctly some act of ..."

7. Methods of Teaching in High Schools by Samuel Chester Parker (1920)
"Other investigations illustrating trial and error. — In order to bring out more clearly the part played by the method of trial and accidental success in ..."

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