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DeductivevsInductiveReasoning.docx

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Deductive vs Inductive Reasoning

Deductive reasoning starts out with a general statement, or hypothesis, and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion. The scientific method uses deduction to test hypotheses and theories. With deductive reasoning, we start with facts and then derive other facts from them. Mathematically we can represent the following: A=B and B=C, therefore we can deductively say A=C. Deductive reasoning arrives at a specific conclusion based on generalizations. In deductive reasoning, if something is true of a class of things, in general, it is also true for all members of that class.

i.e. "All men are mortal". "Tom is a man". Therefore Tom is mortal.

Inductive reasoning begins by looking for a trend or logically sequenced events that can be used to create a generalized conclusive statement. Inductive reasoning uses specific observations to make broad statements. Inductive reasoning is a logical process in which multiple premises, all believed true or found true most of the time, are combined to obtain a specific conclusion. When we use inductive reasoning, we are not sure of the conclusion.

i.e. “Tom is a father. Tom is bald. Therefore, all fathers are bald."

Derived from the pages of:

http://www.livescience.com/21569-deduction-vs-induction.html

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/inductive-reasoning