Tests for Inductive Reasoning By Annie Downey

Inductive Reasoning Inductive reasoning is when your conclusions are drawn from certain examples, observations, or facts.

Test #1 See if enough examples have been found to back your reasoning. Your generalizations should be based off of at least more than two examples. There may be many facts that you will not find in just two sources

Test #2 Determine if the example results are typical Find examples in many situations and be sure you are accurate

Test #3 See if the examples have exceptions Be sure your conclusion accounts for all exceptions to the situations

1 st Example You are researching students’ sleep habits and their results on test scores.

Test #1 You must make sure there are enough students tested to create accurate results. Only testing 3 students would not allow you to make conclusions on a student body as a whole.

Test #2 Be sure to test a variety of students, all ages of High School and both genders. If you want to make truthful conclusions you must have a variety of test subjects.

Test #3 There may be a few students that don’t fit your normal test results. (Like students who don’t stay up working on a project the night before!) These exceptions must be accounted for in your conclusion

2 nd Example You are researching the most used brand of cereal (don’t laugh it is a very serious paper…)

Test #1 You must make sure that there is enough information to back your final conclusion. Use two or more sources!

Test #2 Possibly ask other people their opinions to see if the results you found are typical. Be sure to use a broad variety of cites for information

Test #3 There will probably be exceptions to almost any research project. With using observations done by other people you must search to find the exceptions

Three Topic Questions 1.What is inductive reasoning? 2. What are the three test for inductive reasoning? 3. Why is it important to have more than two sources?

Answers 1. Conclusions drawn from certain examples, observations, or facts. 2. Be sure you have enough examples, check if your results are typical, and see if there are any exceptions to your conclusion. 3. There may be many facts that you will not find in just two sources.