Understanding Inductive and Deductive Arguments
An inductive argument are reasons that are assumed or known to be true by providing evidence that makes it more or less probable. 'Inductive reasoning makes broad generalizations from specific observations. Even if all the premises are true in a statement, inductive reasoning allows for the conclusion to be false". (Bradford, 2015) Deductive reasoning cannot be false and is described as "a logical process in which a conclusion is based on the concordance of multiple premises that are generally assumed to be true". (Rouse, 2013) Both inductive and deductive arguments assist in arriving at a conclusion or decision.
Inductive reasoning has three different forms of reasoning; empirical generalization, causal reasoning, and pseudo reasoning. Empirical generalization is "a general statement about an entire group made on the basis of observing some members of the group" (Chaffee, Pp. 456) although the information is taken from a limited sample. Casual reasoning claims "that an event or events is the result of the occurrence of another event or events." (Chaffee, Pp. 456) The last form of inductive reasoning is pseudo reasoning or false reasoning. Pseudo reasoning "are often termed fallacies: arguments that are not sound because of various errors in reasoning. Fallacious reasoning is typically used to influence others". (Chaffee, Pp. 456-457) Inductive reasoning can only be as strong as the sample on which it is based on.
A deductive argument cannot be false and is described as "an argument from in which one reasons from premises that are known or assured to be true to a conclusion that follows necessarily from these premises". (Chaffee, Pp. 432) Also, a deductive argument is a logical and valid argument that has supporting reasons that require the conclusion to be true. Deductive forms that are used include a general rule, modus ponenes ("affirming the antecedent"), modus tollens ("denying the consequence"), and disjunctive syllogism (presenting several alternatives).
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All the forms listed above are used in "academic disciplines, in scientific inquiry, in debates on social issues, and elsewhere". (Chaffee, Pp. 436). Inductive pseudo-reasoning can influence individuals by misleading or persuading those using emotional or illogical factors because inductive arguments are not guaranteed. A clear example of empirical evidence: A teenager is suspended from school for starting a fight with another student. The principal of the school has told the child's parents that he has the teen on video, has been given a confession by the student, and many students witnessed the altercation. The evidence provided is convincing but there still remains some doubt that the child is innocent. Empirical evidence can persuade others into believing that the child was guilty of beginning the fight. Imagine that the principal is related to the student that the teen fought with or that the classmates were lying about their fellow student. There is a possibility that the student did not start the fight but was defending himself. There is no guarantee that empirical evidence is accurate and that the conclusion is in fact, false.
In order to obtain parents opinions regarding bullying in elementary schools in Tampa, Florida, I would need a reliable sample from the general public. The known sample would be twenty parents from each grade and from each elementary school in the Tampa Bay area. A total of twenty parents per grade, kindergarten through fifth grade, per the 215 elementary schools in the Tampa Bay area, would allow the sample to be sufficient and more reliable. A random selection of the parents interviewed will ensure that the population is represented correctly. In closing, by utilizing inductive reasoning and the empirical generalization methods, I would successfully gather the opinions of 4,300 parents regarding bullying in the Tampa Bay area.
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Understanding Inductive and Deductive Arguments. (2023, Feb 16). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/understanding-inductive-and-deductive-arguments/
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