What is reasoning? According to Butterworth and Thwaites (2013) reasoning is the process where we move from the knowledge already know and understand to new knowledge and understanding. According to Butterworth and Thwaites (2013) reasoning is a higher skill. It forms the basis for reflection and creative thinking apart from use in critical thinking. They argue that it is bedrock of human advancement. Scientific and academic logic and thinking uses two principal types of thinking; deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning. A third type is abductive reasoning.
Deductive reasoning is a form of valid reasoning. It is sometimes referred to as a "top-down approach". Deductive reasoning works from a general theory or hypotheses, then by examining the possibilities we reach a specific and logical conclusion.
Deductive
reasoning is a form of valid reasoning. It is sometimes referred to as a
"top-down approach". Deductive reasoning works from a general theory
or hypotheses, then by examining the possibilities we reach a specificand logical concuclusion by means of testing the possibilities. We can narrow down
even further as observations are collected to address the hypotheses. This
ultimately leads to the testing hypotheses with specific data. In other words,
we start with a general statement or hypotheses in an area of interest and
narrow down into more specific hypotheses that we can test. Therefore,
deductive reasoning is a top-down reasoning approach. It is more close-ended
and narrow in nature and is concerned with hypotheses testing. Deductive
reasoning or logic is concerned with the validity of arguments; an argument is
deductively valid if and only its conclusion follows a logically necessary
consequence of its premises. Usually deductive reasoning follows the steps of a
premise and a second premise and finally an inference or conclusion. A common
form of deductive reasoning is called Syllogisms. In syllogisms, there are two
statements, a major and a minor premise that reach a logical conclusion. For
example, All dogs are mammals. An Alsatian is a dog. Therefore, an Alsatian is
a mammal.
Deductive
Reasoning:
Source www.socialresearchmethods.net
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Inductive
reasoning works in the reverse to deductive reasoning. It is a "bottom up
approach " to reasoning. Inductive reasoning makes broad generalisations
drawn from specific observations and measures, patterns, regularities are
distinguished, some tentative hypotheses are articulated for exploration and
investigation, and finally arriving at developing some conclusions or theories,
and finally arrive at constructing some general conclusions or theories.
Therefore,
inductive reasoning is a bottom-up approach that uses specific observations and
moves to broader generalisations and theories.It uses data , then conclusions
are drawn from the data. In inductive reasoning, if the premises are true, then
the conclusion is probably true. Inductive reasoning has its place in the scientific method. It is
used to form hypotheses and theories. Deductive reasoning is used to apply
theories to specific situations.
Inductive Reasoning:
Source www.socialresearchmethods.net
|
Abductive
reasoning is used to address the inherent weaknesses of deductive and inductive
reasoning. Specifically, deductive reasoning is criticized for the
lack of clarity in terms of how to select theory to be tested via formulating
hypotheses. Inductive reasoning, on other hand, criticized because “no amount
of empirical data will necessarily enable theory-building”. Abductive
reasoning, as a third alternative, overcomes these weaknesses via adopting a
pragmatist perspective.
Abductive
reasoning:
Source https://research-methodology.net/
|
Abductive reasoning
usually starts with an incomplete set of observations and proceeds to the
likeliest possible explanation for the group of observations. It is based on
making and testing hypotheses using the best information available. It often
entails making an educated guess after observing a phenomenon for which there
is no clear explanation.
Abductive reasoning is
useful for forming hypotheses to be tested. Abductive reasoning is often used
by doctors who make a diagnosis based on test results and by jurors who make
decisions based on the evidence presented to them.
In
conclusion, reasoning is the basis of logic, creative thinking and
critical thinking. Deductive reasoning begins with a general statement or
hypothesis and narrows down further as observations are made to address the
hypothesis. It is used to test a hypothesis. Inductive reasoning moves from
specific observations that lead to broader generalisations and theories.
Abductive reasoning starts with an
incomplete set of observations and proceeds to the likeliest possible
explanation for the group of observations.
References:
Butterworth.J and
Thwaites.G (2013). Thinking
Skills:Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Second
edition.
Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Alina Bradford (2017). Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning
Retrieved
from
Alina Bradford. Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning
Retrieved from
Deduction & Induction Resources.
(n.d.). Retrieved from
Research Methodology. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttps://research-methodology.net/
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