Inductive and Deductive

Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
General to particular
Universal to individual
Given premises to necessary conclusions
Also known as- analytical, abstract and a
priori method
General Rule – Major Premise –
Statement of law
Factual Assertion – Minor premise –
Statement of fact
Cesare Lombroso
Observed peculiar features –
asymmetrical cranium, long lower jaw,
flattened nose, scanty beard and low
sensitivity topains
Predisposed criminal behavior
Cannot refarin from committing crimes
unless circumstances of life are generally
favored.
Merits Demerits

 Powerful  Requires high degree of

 Simple logic and reasoning
 Substitute  Danger of building
for
experimentation inapplicable models
 Highly accurate  Valid under assumed
conditions
 Not applicable to all studies
Inductive method
Most often used method of scientific
research
From particular to whole group of cases
From specific instances to general rules
Also known as- historical, empirical or a
posteriori method
Generalizations are made after analysis of
data
Man A
died

Man B
died and
so on

All men
are
mortal
Dr. Goring
Conducted a research on Lombrosian
concept
Made comparison of several thousand
criminals and non- criminals and finds in
his investigation that there is no relation
between the criminal behaviors and
physical anomalies which are proposed by
Lombroso
Merits Demerits

 More realistic  Comparitively difficult

 Possibility of verification
 Proper attention to
complexities
 Dynamic approach
 Danger of bias
 Limited scope of
verification
 Limited use in Socio- legal
studies
Inductive or deductive?
Eg- The great Sherlock Holmes, created
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is memorable
for his ability to deduce the circumstances
of a case by fitting precise details into an
overall pattern.