Inductive Reasoning

inferences

We reach ____ by generalizing broad understandings from a set of specific instances.

Inductive Reasoning

refers to the process of reasoning where you take specific facts or observations to reach a likely conclusion. This probable conclusion can be used to attempt to predict future specific instances

Inductive Reasoning

It forms the basis of empirical method (Holyoak & Nisbett, 1998), specifically involving the processes of generating and testing hypotheses.

well-founded or probable conclusion

What distinguishes inductive reasoning from its deductive counterpart is that, it can’t reach a logically certain conclusion, only a _____.

Helps increase their ability to make sense out of great variability in their environment; Helps predict events in their environment, reducing uncertainty.

Why do people use Inductive Reasoning?

Causal Inferences

Refers to how people make judgments about whether something causes something else

covariation

We are most likely to infer causality when we observe ____over time

the first causes the second

If we see two events paired enough, we may come to believe that _____

Bottom-up strategies

are based on observing various instances and considering the degree of variability across instances

Top-down strategies

include selectively searching for constancies within many variations and selectively combining existing concepts and categories

Analogies

are used in everyday life as we make predictions about our environment through activating concepts and items stored in our mind that are similar to the current input. This activation can result in a prediction of what is likely in a given situation

confirmation bias

Causal inferences are affected by ____, which leads to errors such as illusory correlations

causality

We frequently mistake correlational evidence as a standalone determination of ____

multiple causes

We fail to recognize that many phenomena has ____

discounting error

once we identify one of many suspected cause, we are likely to commit ____.

self-fulfilling prophecy effect

Confirmation bias may also be closely related and result in a ____.

bottom-up and top-down strategies

People often draw inferences using both ____ and ____