![]() This educated guess can stem from previous theory or experience. The inference or educated guess you make about what happens to the eggs is thus tested by the actual outcome of the eggs you are observing.Ī third type of reasoning is called abduction, which relies on making an educated guess to explain what you are observing. Using previous knowledge and experience to build your premise, you are likely to conclude that the eggs will eventually hatch birds. The specific conclusions about the same color uniforms are tested here but ultimately conflict with the new data.Īmong other examples of deductive reasoning, imagine another simple example where you are conducting specific observations where birds lay eggs. However, one set of players is wearing shirts while the other players are not. Deductive reasoning examplesĬontinuing the example from our discussion of inductive reasoning, imagine that you are watching another basketball game, this time in a more casual setting where players don't wear uniforms. The main difference between inductive and deductive reasoning is that deductive reasoning relies on existing knowledge independent of new data. Finally, the researcher compares the two premises to arrive at an inference or conclusion that either affirms the first premise or warrants the development of existing theory or creation of new theory. What the researcher learns about the data is known as the second premise. Deduction starts with a first premise ("all players on the same basketball team wear the same-colored uniform") and applies it to a new context or set of data. ![]() Deductive arguments begin with applying an existing theoretical understanding of the phenomena of interest to examine it in a particular context (in the case of qualitative research) or develop a hypothesis and test it (in the case of quantitative research). Inductive reasoning looks to form a valid argument from the bottom up, while a top-down approach to looking at the world can be called deductive logic. Qualitative research employs inductive methods iteratively to find those exceptions and further develop more universal observations and conclusions about the world. Still, those observations may have not included exceptions (e.g., dessert pizza) to contradict the general premises generated. All pizza contains cheese and tomato sauce.Īs obvious from examples such as these, the conclusions reached are based on observations of cats, cars, and pizza.All cars have doors and steering wheels.Other examples of inductive reasoning generating conclusions include: Other simple examples of inductive reasoning The conclusion reached in this observation forms a working theory that can be applied to similar contexts. The general premise, at least for the moment, is that uniform colors are used to distinguish one team from another. If one knows nothing about basketball or sports, one possible inductive argument is that the players wearing shirts of the same color are on the same team working together. Inductive reasoning would be required in this situation since you don't have the prior knowledge or experience to make any sort of general statement about basketball. Imagine that you are applying the inductive method to a basketball game you are watching for the first time. Let's look at a basic example of how inductive arguments are formed. ![]() In the social sciences, major or general premises contribute to theories about human behavior and cultural patterns. In contrast, a more focused conclusion regarding a particular context becomes what is known as a minor or specific premise. As more data from other contexts or situations are incorporated into the researcher's analysis, the researcher can form what is called a major or general premise or a broader conclusion about the patterns observed. Any analytical approach called induction starts with examining a body of data, with as few preconceived notions as possible, to try to reach conclusions based on the data.īy inductively identifying patterns in the data, researchers form a premise or a statement that applies to that specific set of data. Inductive analysis looks at observing patterns to arrive at a logical conclusion.
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