Reasoning - Abductive, Deductive, Inductive

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What is Abductive Reasoning?

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A form of reasoning that starts with an observation or set of observations and seeks the simplest and most likely explanation. Example: Seeing a bowl of soup on a table and concluding someone will return soon.

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What is Deductive Reasoning?

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A logical process where a conclusion follows necessarily from the premises. Example: If all even numbers are divisible by 2, and 44 is even, then 44 is divisible by 2.

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What is Inductive Reasoning?

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A type of reasoning that involves making generalizations based on specific observations. Example: If 6 out of 8 surveyed students like video games, concluding that most students like video games.

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Example of Abductive Reasoning?

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You see a wet sidewalk and conclude it rained, even though it could have been from a sprinkler.

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Example of Deductive Reasoning?

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All birds have feathers. A sparrow is a bird. Therefore, a sparrow has feathers.

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Example of Inductive Reasoning?

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After observing that the sun has risen in the east every day, you conclude that the sun will rise in the east tomorrow.

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Key characteristic of Abductive Reasoning?

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It seeks the best explanation for an observation, often with limited information.

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Key characteristic of Deductive Reasoning?

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It provides a certain conclusion based on the truth of the premises.

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Key characteristic of Inductive Reasoning?

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It allows for the possibility that the conclusion is false, even if all the premises are true.

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When to use Abductive Reasoning?

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When you have incomplete information and need to make a plausible conclusion.