Inductive Reasoning Flashcards

A researcher surveys 50 college students and finds that 80% prefer online classes. She concludes that most college students nationwide prefer online classes. This is an example of:

Answer: Inductive generalization

Inductive generalization draws a broad conclusion about a population based on observations from a sample.

Which of the following would MOST strengthen an inductive argument?

Answer: Increasing the size of the sample observed

Larger, more representative samples produce stronger inductive support for generalizations.

Every crow observed in the last 200 years has been black. Therefore, all crows are black. The primary weakness of this argument is:

Answer: Future or unobserved crows could be non-black

Inductive conclusions always risk being overturned by new evidence, such as a white crow being discovered.

A doctor notices that three patients who ate at the same restaurant developed food poisoning. She suspects the restaurant is the source. This reasoning is best described as:

Answer: Abductive inference

Abductive inference selects the best explanation for a set of observed facts, often called 'inference to the best explanation.'

Which scenario illustrates a biased sample that weakens an inductive argument?

Answer: Surveying only gym members to conclude that most Americans exercise daily

Surveying gym members introduces selection bias because they are not representative of the general American population.

In inductive reasoning, the term 'probabilistic conclusion' means:

Answer: The conclusion is likely but not guaranteed to be true

Unlike deductive conclusions, inductive conclusions are probable, not certain, even when premises are true.

Students who study more than 10 hours per week earn higher grades. Maria studies 12 hours per week. Therefore, Maria probably earns high grades. This argument is:

Answer: Inductively strong

The argument is inductively strong because the premises provide good probabilistic support for the conclusion.