Induction and deduction are forms of reasoning. Induction attempts to reach general conclusions from particular premises, while deduction relies on general premises to reach a particular conclusion.
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| Definition | Form of reasoning that uses specific data to reach general conclusions. | Form of reasoning that uses general data to reach specific conclusions. |
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It is a form of reasoning that considers specific data analysis to infer general conclusions about the nature of the phenomenon studied. That is, it is a type of scientific reasoning that studies the particular to arrive at propositions that apply to all phenomena of the same category..
This type of reasoning is known as the inductive method and is applied following certain criteria.
To apply the inductive method, data of a series of phenomena of the same nature are observed and collected, in order to find a common principle to all of them. Thus, it can be said that if a group of newborns cry when they are hungry, then it can be concluded that all newborns cry when they are hungry..
However, although induction is a widely used method, it is not without its flaws. In fact, in deductive reasoning there is no criterion to determine the validity of an argument, what has been called "the problem of induction".
What is it the problem of induction? This is what happens in cases in which the (general) conclusions do not correspond to the (particular) premises.
An example of the induction problem would be the following:
An isolated indigenous tribe has contact for the first time with a group of white-skinned explorers. Looking at them, they might conclude that outside their territory all people look like explorers. However, we know that this is not the case, since there are several phenotypes of people.
As not all general conclusions correspond to particular data, it is considered that induction can serve to describe true facts. For example, that group of newborns cry when they are hungry or that those explorers are white.
However, the conclusion will not always be true, as its premises. In any case, it is likely to be true.
You may be interested: Difference between inductive and deductive method.
The application of the inductive method requires a series of steps that, if applied correctly, will result in a greater probability that the conclusion is correct..
1. Data collection
It is the selection of the series of events to analyze. For example:
"All the cars that pass through the main avenue at 12 noon will be analyzed."
2. Observation
It consists of examining each event separately to detect characteristic features. Continuing with the previous example, it would be:
"The cars that pass through the main avenue at 12 noon have wheels, windows, seats and doors."
3. Pattern identification
It is considered which characteristics are repeated in all the selected events. For example:
"The observed cars have 4 wheels."
4. Conclusion
A general conclusion is drawn from the observed patterns. In this case, the conclusion would be:
"All cars have 4 wheels."
The reasoning method based on induction has a series of characteristics, among which the following stand out:
The deductive method is another form of logical reasoning used in the scientific world to check the veracity of certain data.
An example of the deductive method would be:
All the planets in the Milky Way are hemispherical.
The planets of the solar system are hemispherical.
Earth is a planet in the solar system.
This is the reason why it is said that the deduction goes from the general to the particular, since the premises contain generic data from which a conclusion is drawn that applies to a specific event.
Transferred to the field of scientific research or production of knowledge, deduction makes it possible to rely on proven or accepted theories to describe the phenomenon being studied and make inferences about it.
Inference is applied through the deductive method, which in turn has two types:
1. Direct deductive method
The researcher uses a premise from which he draws his conclusion, without contrasting it with others. For example:
2. Indirect deductive method
The researcher requires two or more premises to draw a conclusion. For example:
In both cases, the objective is the same: take some general characteristics and adapt them to the particularities of the phenomenon to draw conclusions. These conclusions, in turn, serve to validate the theory or objective knowledge used in the research..
The deduction-based method has 4 stages, which are applied in both the direct and indirect methods:
1. Data collection
It consists of defining what facts or events will be analyzed. For example:
The shape of the planets in the solar system.
2. Observation
To build the premises, it is necessary to observe the phenomenon. Observation, in turn, has as many stages as there are premises to be created. The second premise, and those that follow (if any), will always be used to contrast the first and thus confirm its veracity. For example:
3. Conclusion
With the data extracted from the general premise, and after contrasting them with the rest of the propositions, a particular conclusion is made. In this case:
Earth is not cubic.
The deduction reasoning method has elements that are essential to be considered a way of generating knowledge:
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