D E D U C T I V E

A N D
I N D U C T I V E
R E A S O N I N G
RESEARCH METHODS
10TH A-B
JAN 31ST - FEB 4TH
What is a deduction?
It is when you take two true premises to form a conclusion.

For example:

A is equal to B.

B is also equal to C.

Given those two statements, you can conclude A is equal to C using

deductive reasoning.
Example:

1.All bats are mammals.

2.All mammals have kidneys.

Conclusion:
 Remember!

• To keep the rule working, both premises

MUST be true.

1. All animals with wings can fly.

2. Penguins have wings.
Conclusion:
 Also:

Avoid overgeneralization:
1. All swans are white.
2. Jane is white.
Conclusion:
Practice:
• Look at the following examples and decide which is
overgeneralized, which is not true and which is correct:

Jupiter is a shelter dog.

All shelter dogs are happy.
Conclusion: All numbers ending in 0 or 5 are
divisible by 5.

The number 35 ends with a 5

All actresses are beautiful. Conclusion:

Gal Gadot is beautiful.

Conclusion:
Deductive reasoning in research:

• It helps you develop a hypothesis based on existing theory, and

then designing a research strategy to test the hypothesis.
• Deduction begins with an expected pattern that is tested against
observations.
Deductive reasoning in
research:

• Deducing hypothesis from theory.

• Formulating hypothesis

• Testing hypothesis

• Examining the outcome of the test

• Modifying theory
 Possibility to explain causal
relationships between concepts and
variables
Possibility to measure concepts
quantitatively

Possibility to generalize research

Advantages: findings to a certain extent
In the class notebook:
Explain:
The definition of deduction
The advantages of deductive reasoning and
The steps to apply it in research.
More examples:
1. All birds lay eggs.
2. Platypus lay eggs.
Conclusion:

3. All plants perform photosynthesis

4. A cactus is a plant.
Conclusion:
Inductive Reasoning
• Starts with the observations and theories are proposed towards the end of the
research process as a result of observations.
• It involves the search for pattern from observation and the development of
explanations – theories – for those patterns through series of hypotheses
Inductive Reasoning:
• No hypotheses can be found at the initial stages of the research and the
researcher is not sure about the type and nature of the research
findings until the study is completed.

• The researcher uses observations to build an abstraction or to describe

a picture of the phenomenon that is being studied.
Try it out!

My nephew borrowed $100 last June but he did not pay back
until September as he had promised (PREMISE). Then he
assured me that he will pay back until Christmas but he didn’t
(PREMISE). He also failed in to keep his promise to pay back in
March (PREMISE). I reckon I have to face the facts.
________________________(CONCLUSION).
Class Activity: Deductive and inductive reasoning

Work on the cases stated in a word document.

1. Read each case carefully.

2. Decide which reasoning better applies to the situation.

3. Apply the steps of each reasoning in the corresponding cases to

prove why you would use that reasoning.