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Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning Explained

This document discusses inductive and deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning works from general theories to derive specific hypotheses, using a top-down approach. Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations to detect patterns and form tentative hypotheses, using a bottom-up approach. Deductive reasoning guarantees the conclusion if the premises are true, while inductive reasoning conclusions may not be absolutely true. Examples of each type of reasoning are provided.

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Ebenezer Enam
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16 views2 pages

Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning Explained

This document discusses inductive and deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning works from general theories to derive specific hypotheses, using a top-down approach. Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations to detect patterns and form tentative hypotheses, using a bottom-up approach. Deductive reasoning guarantees the conclusion if the premises are true, while inductive reasoning conclusions may not be absolutely true. Examples of each type of reasoning are provided.

Uploaded by

Ebenezer Enam
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© All Rights Reserved
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RESEARCH METHOD1

ASSIGNMENT

ID NUMBER: PH/INF/14/0001
Inductive Reasoning and Deductive Reasoning are two methods
used to arrive at a conclusion based on information assumed to
be true. Both are used to establish hypothesis in research.
Deductive reasoning is the kind in which the truth of the input
propositions (premises) logically guarantees the output
proposition (the conclusion) provided no mistake was made. It
also arrives at a specific conclusion based on generalization.
Thus, it is the direct application of known knowledge to produce
new one .Furthermore it works from the more general to the more
specific. It is sometimes informally called a top-down approach.
It begins with thinking about a theory for the topic of interest. It
then narrows down to a more specific hypothesis that can be
tested. Collection of observations to address the hypothesis
follows. This ultimately leads to confirmation of the original
theories. Below is an illustration;
THEORY HYPOTHESIS OBSERVATION CONFIRMATION
where means: moving down
Inductive Reasoning is the opposite, moving from specific
observations and measures, begin to detect patterns and
regularities, formulate some tentative hypothesis that can be
explored and finally end up developing some general conclusions
or theories. There can be a possibility that the conclusion might
not be true even when the premises appear so. Even though it
provides considerable success its application is questionable since
conclusions are drawn from relatively limited experiences. Thus, it
is biased. Below is an illustration
OBSERVATION PATTERN TENTATIVE HYPOTHESIS
CONFIRMATION where means: moving up
EXAMPLE OF DEDUCTIVE REASONING

1) It is of the view that when a room is dark, it is either the light switch is
off or the bulb has burned out. So should anyone enter a dark room
and the switch is on then the only legitimate conclusion will be that the
bulb is burned out.

EXAMPLES OF INDUCTIVE REASONING


1) A person who infers from the belief that all swarms that have
been observed are white will immediately conclude that all
swarms are white. The premise provides evidential support
for the conclusion but does not guarantee its truth since
there are black swarms in existence.
2) 100% of biological life forms depend on water for existence.
However it is possible that in the future a biological life form
not requiring water for existence could be found. The
argument should therefore be:
All biological life forms that we know depend on water for
existence

REFERENCES:
Retrieved on: 07/04/ 2015 ; from:
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
Trochim, W. (2000).The Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2 nd
Edition, Atomic Dog Publishing, Cincinnati OH.

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