Inductive, Deductive and Abductive Reasoning
Inductive
Inductive reasoning is a method of reasoning in which a general principle is derived from a body of observations. It consists of making broad generalizations based on specific observations.
Deductive
Deductive reasoning is often referred to as 'top-down reasoning'. If something is assumed to be accurate and another relates to the first assumption, the original truth must also hold true for the second. For example, if a car's trunk is large and a bike does not fit into it, you may assume the bike must also be large.
Abductive
Abductive reasoning is to abduce (or take away) a logical assumption, explanation, inference, conclusion, hypothesis, or best guess from an observation or set of observations. Because the conclusion is merely a best guess, the conclusion that is drawn may or may not be true.
Difference between inductive and deductive
The main difference between inductive and deductive reasoning is that inductive reasoning aims at developing a theory while deductive reasoning aims at testing an existing theory.
In other words, inductive reasoning moves from specific observations to broad generalizations. Deductive reasoning works the other way around.
Application in [[Structured Democratic Dialogue Process
The use of Abductive Reasoning for the construction of the Influence Tree and Inductive Reasoning for the construction of the [[Clusters|Clustering Process], emancipates the stakeholders from the prison of the extrapolation and perpetuation of the current situation. In this manner they can create futures and construct world-views that have never been.