Inductive vs. Deductive Methods Explained
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ScribdTranslationsInductive vs. Deductive Methods Explained
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsInductive and deductive method
Technical review by Ever Arrieta • Philosopher, historian, and translator
The difference between the inductive and deductive methods lies in the
direction of reasoning to reach the conclusions.
Both the inductive and deductive methods are strategies of
logical reasoning, given that inductive reasoning uses premises
particulars to reach a general conclusion, and the deductive
use general principles to reach a specific conclusion.
Both methods are important in production of
knowledge. During a scientific investigation it is possible that
either one is used or the other, or a combination of both, depending
in the field of study in which it is carried out.
Currently, the method used in the sciences
Experimental is the so-called hypothetico-deductive method.
Inductive method Deductive method
It is a way of reasoning based on It is a way to reason and explain the
a series of particular observations reality based on laws or
that allow the production of laws and general theories toward cases
Definition general conclusions. particulars.
Feature It is based on observation of Establish conclusions to
s facts and phenomena. starting from generalizations.
Generalizes from its In logic, the conclusion of
observations. a reasoning is included in
His conclusions are likely. the premises.
It is useful when it doesn't
It aims to generate
new knowledge. you can observe the causes of a
phenomenon.
His conclusions are
rigorous and valid.
Inductive method Deductive method
Does not generate by itself
new knowledge, since it is part
to verify prior knowledge.
Direction of
reasoning From the particular to the general. From the general to the particular.
It was the method used in the sciences
experimental. Currently, it is
Areas of used as part of the scientific method Formal sciences such as the
knowledge in general. mathematics and logic.
Inductive method
The inductive method is used starting from particular cases.
to arrive at a general proposition.
The use of inductive reasoning was and is of great importance in
scientific work in general, since it consists of the collection
data on specific cases and their analysis to create theories or
hypothesis.
Features of the inductive method
Follow the direction from bottom to top, from the particular to the
general.
It starts from empirical observations and then builds theories.
about what was observed.
It is still used in the sciences, but within the method.
hypothetical-deductive.
It is limited to the observation of phenomena.
His conclusions are probable and may turn out to be false.
Observation in the inductive method
Observation is one of the key aspects in the method.
inductive. The experience of phenomena is important in the
scientific areas where data on facts is collected
observed phenomena, to arrive at a hypothesis or theory
general.
For scientific knowledge to have weight, it is important that
numerous observations are made about a fact so that, if
under similar conditions, a generalization can be made.
In addition to observation, the inductive method uses the
experimentation to obtain the necessary data that leads to
formulation of a general conclusion.
Steps of the inductive method
Events and phenomena are observed and recorded.
The collected data from various sources is compared and analyzed.
observations and their possible relationships.
Generalizations (or laws) are established.
These generalizations are used to predict futures
phenomena.
Examples of the inductive method
A simple example is to find out the result of the sum of
the internal angles of a triangle.
First, the internal angles of a triangle are summed and noted down.
that these result in 180º. Then, the same is done
activity with another triangle, and the result is the same, 180º. It
repeat this action (observation and comparison of each sum)
several times.
The result remains the same. When everything is gathered
information, it is concluded that the angles
The internal angles of a triangle sum to 180º. In other words, starting from
this series of observations and their comparison, it is concluded that
this will continue to happen.
Another example occurs when it is observed that all the objects that
objects tend to fall. If a series of objects is taken and then
They are allowed to fall, it is observed that each of them falls to the floor.
In this way, it is concluded that there must be some
property or force that makes objects attract each other
(in this case the mass of each object).
It was through this type of observations that it was established
the law of gravity, formulated by the English naturalist physicist
Isaac Newton (1643-1727). This law proposes, basically, that
All bodies that have mass attract each other. So it was
as Newton proved it through various observations. He
one can say, then, that "every body that rises has to
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Limitations of the inductive method
For a long time, it was believed that all swans were white.
because black swans had never been observed. This is a
example of the limitations of the inductive method for
generalize observations.
Science is in constant development. Even counting
with general laws that predict events or phenomena,
Those who are dedicated to science know that it is possible that there may be
cases in which the conclusions do not apply.
This is why the inductive method as such can be
insufficient when it comes to building knowledge and expanding the
understanding of reality, if they are not put to the test
constantly their conclusions.
According to the Scottish philosopher David Hume (1711-1776), there does not exist
absolute certainty that what we observe is a certain
number of times, it will be repeated in the same way in the
future.
For the Austrian philosopher of science Karl Popper (1902-1994),
the problem of induction lies in that it is not always possible
establish a universal truth based on observations
particulars. For Popper, what is important is to find facts that
they can falsify (refute) the conclusions in the sciences.
A famous example is the statement 'all swans are white'.
Whites. At some point in Europe, it was believed that this was the case.
It was observed that the swans were all characterized by being
whites, this statement is generalizing as a fact.
This is because there was no experience to the contrary (never
they had seen black swans). However, some time later,
Black swan specimens were brought from Australia to
Europe, and this simple fact refuted the idea that all swans
they were white.
Deductive method
The deductive method is a type of reasoning used
to apply laws or theories to singular cases.
It is the method used in formal sciences, such as logic and
mathematics. Moreover, deductive reasoning is key in the
application of laws to particular phenomena that are studied in
science.
It is a hierarchical form of reasoning, as it starts from
generalizations, which are gradually applied to particular cases.
This makes the deductive method very useful for producing
knowledge of previous knowledge. It is also practical
when it is impossible or very difficult to observe the causes of a
phenomenon, but rather the consequences that it produces.
Characteristics of the deductive method
Follow the direction from top to bottom, from general to specific.
particular.
It is the method used in formal sciences.
It is based on the theory to predict observable phenomena.
by means of hypotheses.
The conclusion is contained in the premises.
If the premises are valid and true, the conclusion
it is also.
Their conclusions must lead to logical consequences and
rigorous.
By itself, it does not produce new knowledge.
Examples of the deductive method
A classic example of this method is the following:
Premise 1: All men are mortal.
Premise 2: Socrates is a man.
Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
It is possible to observe that the conclusion is already implicit in
the premises.
Another example arises when thinking about living beings and their
genetics. It is known that all living beings possess DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid
deoxyribonucleic). So, if at any point you are going to
to analyze a living organism, it is deduced in advance that this
an organism will have DNA.
Validity and truthfulness in the deductive method
In the deductive method, one can arrive at erroneous conclusions.
if the premises are not true. For example, considering the
following premises:
Premise 1: All men are bad.
Premise 2: Your grandfather is a man.
Conclusion: Therefore, your grandfather is bad.
This argument is valid; however, it is not true.
the validity lies in the fact that the conclusion is implicit in
the premises. But the statement contained in premise 1 ("everyone
"men are bad") is not a true statement, as
its veracity does not stem from the premises, so it is still
it is necessary to check it.
In this sense, the conclusions of the deductive method are
valid and correct when the premises are also so. From the
same form, if the premises are true, the conclusion
it will also be.
Hypothetico-deductive method
The method currently used in scientific research
it is the so-called hypothetico-deductive method. This method synthesizes,
basically, the main aspects of the inductive method and the
deductive.
Steps of the hypothetical-deductive method
1. The observation and analysis of a series of
phenomena.
2. A hypothesis is proposed based on the results of that.
what was observed in order to explain those phenomena. So that
For the hypothesis to be valid, it must be possible to test it.
3. When a hypothesis posits something, it is deduced that if it
they present the same conditions that caused a phenomenon,
the consequences predicted by the hypothesis should occur.
4. The hypothesis is verified through experiments.
5. If the hypothesis is verified, then it is accepted. If not,
their assumptions are verified, it is rejected.
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Technical review byEver Arrieta
Bachelor's degree in Philosophy (2009) from the National University of Costa Rica; master's in
History, International Relations and Cooperation (2013), in Translation and
Linguistic Services (2015) and in Multimedia (2017) from the University of Porto.
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