Inductive Deductive Reasoning: Note and Assignment

Deductive reasoning is inherent to the situation… If premises are true, the conclusion must
always be true. Inductive is extending the pattern, theorizing, conjecturing based on data
and patterns.

These are the most practical definitions of Inductive and deductive thinking. Interestingly we
can apply inductive/deductive reasoning to these definitions themselves to arrive at some
rule of thumbs in helping us identify arguments as inductive and deductive. For example:

1) Any forecast of future is bound to be inductive in nature, for as we have learned, the future
is always uncertain, hence always a conjecture. Some might argue and say that something
that has been happening for 100 years in the past, or something proved by science, ought to
happen tomorrow/ in future too.. Yes, maybe, but it can’t be said to be with certainty. As we
know from mutual funds, history is no guarantee of future performance.

All future predictions thus come under the ambit of inductive reasoning

Any reasoning having a probabilistic conclusion which can’t be proven to be true 100% of
the time is inductive.

2) Deductive is mostly about the present and/or reconstructing the past, using the clues
available – as it is only the past and the present, which are certain because they have
already occurred. If there is no conjecture involved, and only the truth of premise is the
necessary and sufficient condition for the conclusion to be true, the reasoning is deductive.
Good examples of such deductive thinking are detectives/police piecing together evidence
to prosecute a crime that has already taken place, a scientist constructing experiments
specifically to prove or disprove a theory etc.

3) Mostly in our life, we use Inductive thinking rather than deductive thinking. Deductive
requires painstaking linking of premise and conclusion, assuring that if the premise is true,
the conclusion arrived also remains true. As we all know, painstaking work is not liked by
us… make conjectures and generalizing, on the other hand, is quite natural to Humans …

So when in doubt whether inductive or deductive, generalize…. And find the answer (in this
case, if in doubt, then it’s inductive ... which is also an example of inductive
reasoning/thinking in itself). Interestingly, if you would have used this approach in the quiz,
you would have got both the reasoning questions correct :)

The next page has some examples of reasoning where you have to mark whether it’s
inductive reasoning or deductive reasoning. Pls attempt the same group-wise before our
class tomorrow – it should not take you more than 20-25 mins to complete it.
 Critical Thinking Assignment

1. Suppose you reason as follows: If I spend 15 hours per week studying Critical Thinking, I will
earn an A in the course. I will study Critical Thinking at least 15 hours per week. Therefore, I
will earn an A in the course. What type(s) of reasoning is this?
a. Inductive reasoning
b. Deductive reasoning
c. neither inductive nor deductive reasoning
d. both inductive and deductive reasoning

2. Ram is showing a big gold ring to his friend Shyam. Ram has told Shyam that he is planning
to marry Sita. Ram must be surprising Sita with the diamond ring tonight.
a. Inductive Reasoning
b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None

3. The chair in the living room is red. The chair in the dining room is red. The chair in the
bedroom is red. All the chairs in the house are red.
a. Inductive Reasoning
b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None

4.  Snakes are reptiles and reptiles are cold blooded; therefore, snakes are cold blooded. 
a. Inductive Reasoning
b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None

5. Every windstorm in this area comes from the north. I can see a big cloud of dust in the
distance. A new windstorm is coming from the north.
a. Inductive Reasoning
b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None

6. It is dangerous to drive on icy streets.  The streets are icy now so it is dangerous to drive
now. 
a. Inductive Reasoning
b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None
7.  All Monkeys that we have seen have been brown; so, all monkeys are brown. 
a. Inductive Reasoning
b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None

8. The children in that house yell loudly when they play in their bedroom. I can hear children
yelling in that house. Therefore, the children must be playing in their bedroom.
a. Inductive Reasoning
b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None

9. Every time you eat peanut, your throat swells up and you can't breathe.  So, you are allergic
to peanuts. 
a. Inductive Reasoning
b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None

10. All Deer are mammals, all mammals have kidneys; therefore all Deer have kidneys.
a. Inductive Reasoning
b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None

11. The coin I pulled from the bag is a penny. That coin is a penny. A third coin from the bag is a
penny. Therefore, all the coins in the bag are pennies.
a. Inductive Reasoning
b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None

12. Every cat that you've observed purrs. Therefore, all cats must purr.
a. Inductive Reasoning
b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None

13. Michael just moved here from Chicago. Michael has red hair. Therefore, all people from
Chicago have red hair.
a. Inductive Reasoning
 b. Deductive Reasoning
c. Both
d. None

14. Inductive Reasoning means...

a. Guessing
b. Testing and observing patterns to make conjectures
c. Explaining why
d. What is reasoning?

15. Deductive Reasoning means...

a. Putting evidence together to arrive at a new fact
b. Predicting a Future
c. Explaining why
d. Have you really taught this!