ABSTRACT
Briey dened, inductive reasoning is the process of moving from the specic to the general-taking data from individual observations and experiences and using those data to form more global, generalized rules about the world. Conversely, deduction is the process of moving from the general to the specic-taking established general premises and applying rules of logic to draw valid conclusions that would apply to new specic instances. Scientic reasoning is arguably a step up from induction and deduction in that it is the most complex and explicit of the forms of reasoning. Scientic reasoning should not be confused with knowledge about science; it is a method, not a content area. One could think of it as systematic reasoning. It involves formulating and testing hypotheses, gathering and evaluating evidence, and drawing conclusions that represent links between hypotheses and evidence. Inductive and deductive reasoning are both essential components of scientic reasoning.
