Inductive Reasoning

Induction

provides SUPPORT using premises for a conclusion being true; (only likely to be true)

Argument from Analogy

an argument that something has an attribute because a similar thing has that attribute

analogues

things that have similar attributes

conclusion-analogue

the analogue referred to in the conclusion of an Argument from Analogy

attribute of interest

the attribute ascribed to a thing in the conclusion of an inductive generalization, inductive argument from analogy, or statistical syllogism

premise-analouge

analogue in the premise of an Argument from Analogy

contrary premise-analogue

a premise-analogue that does not share the attribute of interest

Attacking the analogy

showing that the premise-analogues are not as similar to the conclusion-analogue as stated or implied

weak/false analogy

weak argument based on debatable or unimportant similarities between 2 or more things

generalize from a sample

when you reason that all or some of a population has an attribute because at least some of the population has it

diversified sample

a sample whose members are heterogeneous

sampling frame

a set of criteria that make it clear for any specific thing whether or not it is of the population and whether or not it has the attribute of interest

biased/skewed sample

one where variables that may be linked to the attribute of interest are not present in the same population as in the population of interest

random sample

one selected by a procedure that gives every member of a population an equal shot of being included

true proportion

the proportion of a population that actually has an attribute of interest

error margin

range of random fluctuation

confidence level

the probability that the random variation of a sample proportion from random sample to random sample will fall within the error margin

statistical syllogism

applies a general statement to a specific case

Principle of Total Evidence

the idea that in estimating probability you must take into account all available relevant information

casual statement

sets forth the cause of some event

casual hypothesis

a tentative claim; a statement offered for further investigation or testing

"Paired Unusual Events Principle"

if something unusual happens, look for something else unusual that has happened and consider whether it might be the cause

"Common Variable Principle"

a variable common for multiple occurrences of something may be related to it casually

"Covariation Principle"

when a variation in one phenomenon is accompanied by a variation in another phenomenon

conditio sine qua non

a condition but for which the effect would not happen is expressed

randomized controlled experiment

one in which subjects are randomly assigned either to an "experimental group" or a "control" which differ from one another in only one respect: subjects in the E group are subjected to the suspected cause

prospective observational study

2 groups are compared as to the frequency of something (all group has factor, all other group doesn't)

retrospective observational study

one reasons backward from a phenomenon of interest to a suspected cause or casual factor (in 1st group the phenomenon is universally present, in the other absent)

confounding variable

a variable in an investigation of causation that may be linked with an effect of interest, but which is not the subject of investigation