BASIC
REASONING
SKILLS
READING
WRITING
ARITHMETIC
RESEARCH
REASONING
THE
FIFTH
"R"
REASON
REASONING
TYPES OF REASONING
BASIC REASONING SKILLS
CRITICAL THINKING AND REASONING SKILLS
CRITICAL THINKING AND REASONING SKILLS RELATED TOPICS
DEDUCTIVE REASONING
WHAT IS DEDUCTIVE REASONING?
DEDUCTIVE REASONING RELATED TOPICS
INDUCTIVE REASONING
BASIC REASONING SKILLS LINKS
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 1
REASON
Reason is the capacity for consciously making sense of things,
for establishing and verifying facts, and changing or justifying
practices, institutions, and beliefs based on new or existing
information. It is closely associated with such characteristically
human activities as philosophy, science, language, mathematics,
and art, and is normally considered to be a definitive characteristic
of human nature. The concept of reason is sometimes referred to as
rationality and sometimes as discursive reason, in opposition to
intuitive reason.
Reason or "reasoning" is associated with thinking, cognition, and
intellect. Reason, like habit or intuition, is one of the ways by
which thinking comes from one idea to a related idea. For example,
it is the means by which rational beings understand themselves to
think about cause and effect, truth and falsehood, and what is
good or bad.
In contrast to reason as an abstract noun, a reason is a consideration
which explains or justifies some event, phenomenon or behaviour. The
ways in which human beings reason through argument are the subject of
inquiries in the field of logic.
Reason is closely identified with the ability to self-consciously
change beliefs, attitudes, traditions, and institutions, and therefore
with the capacity for freedom and self-determination.
Psychologists and cognitive scientists have attempted to study and
explain how people reason, e.g. which cognitive and neural processes
are engaged, and how cultural factors affect the inferences that people
draw. The field of automated reasoning studies how reasoning may or may
not be modeled computationally. Animal psychology considers the
controversial question of whether animals can reason.
Reason
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reasoning
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 2
REASONING
1. the act or process of a person who reasons.
2. the process of forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences from
facts or premises.
3. the reasons, arguments, proofs, etc., resulting from this process.
Reasoning
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/reasoning
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 3
TYPES
OF
REASONING
Reasoning within an argument gives the rationale behind why one
choice, for example should be selected over another.
Types of reasoning include:
Abduction: the process of creating explanatory hypotheses.
Abduction
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/abduction.htm
Analogical Reasoning: relating things to novel other situations.
Analogical Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/analogical_reasoning.htm
Backwards Reasoning: Start from what you want and work back.
Backwards Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/backwards_reasoning.htm
Butterfly Logic: A makes me think of B, so B causes A. Or vice versa.
Butterfly Logic
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/butterfly_logic%20.htm
Cause-and-Effect Reasoning: showing causes and resulting effect.?
Cause-and-Effect Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/cause-and-effect.htm
Cause-to-Effects Reasoning: starting from the cause and going
forward.
Cause-to-Effects Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/cause-to-effects.htm
Effects-to-Cause Reasoning: starting from the effect and working
backward.
Effects-to-Cause Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/effects-to-cause.htm
The Bradford Hill Criteria: for cause and effect in medical diagnosis.
The Bradford Hill Criteria
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/bradford_hill.htm
Comparative Reasoning: comparing one thing against another.
Comparative Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/comparison.htm
Conditional Reasoning: using if...then...
Conditional Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/conditional_reasoning.htm
Criteria Reasoning: comparing against established criteria.
Criteria Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/criteria.htm
Decompositional Reasoning: understand the parts to understand the whole.
Decompositional Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/decomposition.htm
Deductive Reasoning: starting from the general rule and moving to specifics.
Deductive Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/deduction.htm
Exemplar Reasoning: using an example.
Exemplar Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/exemplar.htm
Gut-Feel: Deciding by how we feel.
Gut-Feel
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/../../../explanations/decision/gut-feel.htm
Inductive Reasoning: starting from specifics and deriving a general rule.
Inductive Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/induction.htm
Modal Logic: arguing about necessity and possibility.
Modal Logic
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/modal_logic.htm
Pros-vs-cons Reasoning: using arguments both for and against a case.
Pros-vs-cons Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/pro-con.htm
Residue Reasoning: Removing first what is not logical.
Residue Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/residue_reasoning.htm
Set-based Reasoning: based on categories and membership relationships.
Set-based Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/set.htm
Systemic Reasoning: the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Systemic Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/systemic.htm
Syllogistic Reasoning: drawing conclusions from premises.
Syllogistic Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/syllogistic_reasoning.htm
Traditional Logic: assuming premises are correct.
Traditional Logic
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/traditional_logic.htm
Types of
Reasoning
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/types_reasoning.htm
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 4
BASIC
REASONING
SKILLS
Basic reasoning skills are those processes basic to cognition of all
forms. There are four categories of basic reasoning skills:
(1) storage skills,
(2) retrieval skills,
(3) matching skills,
(4) execution skills.
Storage and retrieval skills enable the thinker to transfer information
to and from long-term memory. These are the encoding strategies discussed
in Chapter 6. The learner does something on purpose to focus on the
information being studied or to relate it to information that is already
in long-term memory. An example of a commonly used storage and retrieval
technique is visual imagery mediation. The learner purposely develops a
visual (or auditory, kinesthetic, or emotional) representation for the
information to be remembered. Mnemonic strategies are also examples of
storage and retrieval skills.
Matching skills enable a learner to determine how incoming information is
similar to or different from information already stored in long-term memory.
Executive procedures are the final set of basic reasoning skills. These
skills are executive in the sense that they coordinate a set of other
skills in order help learners build new cognitive structures or drastically
restructure old ones. (They act much like the executives in corporations,
who coordinate the activities of other employees in order to achieve
commercial goals.)
Basic Reasoning Skills
http://education.purduecal.edu/Vockell/EdPsyBook/Edpsy7/edpsy7_reasoning.htm
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 5
CRITICAL
THINKING
AND
REASONING
SKILLS
Reason and critical thinking seem to be integrally linked. Scholar
B.K. Beyer defined critical thinking as the ability to make reasoned
judgments. Critical thinking is both rigorous -- not yielding to
emotional arguments -- and is focused on the validity of information.
With these skills, people can make decisions, come up with new ideas
and avoid being fooled by others.
Disciplined Thinking
Critical thinking involves engaging in a variety of intellectually
disciplined forms of thought. The thinker must be able to assess his
own thoughts and reject them if they turn out to be false. The thinker
must also assess the strengths and weaknesses of an idea.
Arguments
Critical thinkers must infer a conclusion from one or more premises.
For example, if a critical thinker smells smoke, that thinker will
likely infer that there is a fire. Critical thinkers have specific
criteria for what constitutes an argument. The argument must be
based on facts that are exact, free from logical fallacies and
strongly rational, as stated by Karen I. Adsit at the University
of Dayton. Critical thinkers are also open to changing their minds
when they receive arguments that are supported by evidence.
Essentials
Students apply various forms of higher order thinking, such as analysis,
problem recognition and problem solving. To think critically, students
must ask questions, avoid emotional reasoning, define problems, analyze
assumptions and biases, study evidence, avoid oversimplifying and show
openness to other interpretations. Thinkers must also tolerate ambiguity.
Relationship Between Information
Critical thinkers establish relationships between different groups of data.
Those who can reason take information from long-term memory and apply it
to information they are currently consuming. They must be able to take
information from long-term memory and determine whether they can categorize
it. They must also notice similarities between otherwise different ideas
and evaluate ideas by comparing them to an internal structure of logic, as
written on the Purdue University Calumet website.
Reasoning
Reason allows people to engage in actions that would be impossible otherwise.
For example, people use reason to elaborate on information that does not
explicitly state something, thus mining out new knowledge. Elaboration comes
from the individual’s ability to make inferences based on incomplete information.
Rational people can more effectively find information or strategies that allow
them to solve problems or accomplish goals. Finally, reason is essential for
creating and expressing new information through speech and writing.
Managing Information
People are fed large amounts of information because of technological advancements
that disseminate information more cheaply. As a result, they need critical thinking
methodologies to help them assess information and apply this information to complex
problems they face.
Ethical Reasoning
Reason is essential for developing a consistent form of ethics that transcends
religious beliefs, social conventions and local laws. For example, governments
may legalize actions that are considered universally wrong, such as torture.
Ethical reasoning is used to help people think about why these actions are wrong
under all circumstances.
Critical Thinking & Reasoning Skills
http://www.ehow.com/info_12044475_critical-thinking-reasoning-skills.html#ixzz2YqwTeBgJ
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 6
CRITICAL
THINKING
AND
REASONING
SKILLS
RELATED
TOPICS
Critical Thinking Skills Lessons
http://www.ehow.com/info_7895044_critical-thinking-skills-lessons.html
Four Elements of Critical Thinking
http://www.ehow.com/info_12044011_four-elements-critical-thinking.html
Skills for Critical Thinking
http://www.ehow.com/info_8144393_skills-critical-thinking.html
Critical Thinking Skills Lessons
http://www.ehow.com/info_7895044_critical-thinking-skills-lessons.html
How to Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills
http://www.ehow.com/how_4948249_improve-critical-thinking-skills.html
How to Test Your Critical Thinking Skills
http://www.ehow.com/how_7766169_test-critical-thinking-skills.html
How to Use a Lesson Assignment to Enhance Critical Thinking
http://www.ehow.com/how_12034365_use-lesson-assignment-enhance-critical-thinking.html
How to Train for Critical Thinking Skills
http://www.ehow.com/how_7189707_train-critical-thinking-skills.html
Types of Critical Thinking Skills
http://www.ehow.com/info_7997297_types-critical-thinking-skills.html
How Do I Develop Critical Thinking Skills in Students?
http://www.ehow.com/info_8321013_do-critical-thinking-skills-students.html
Ways to Improve Critical Thinking Skills
http://www.ehow.com/info_7906212_ways-improve-critical-thinking-skills.html
How to Improve Critical Reasoning on a GMAT
http://www.ehow.com/how_6692543_improve-critical-reasoning-gmat.html
Critical Reasoning Tricks for the GMAT
http://www.ehow.com/info_8084814_critical-reasoning-tricks-gmat.html
How to Improve Thinking Power
http://www.ehow.com/how_4474075_improve-thinking-power.html
Inductive Versus Deductive Reasoning
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5171103_inductive-versus-deductive-reasoning.html
The Difference Between Deductive & Inductive Methods
http://www.ehow.com/info_12005845_difference-between-deductive-inductive-methods.html
Principles of Induction & Deduction
http://www.ehow.com/info_7948153_principles-induction-deduction.html
Activities for Teaching Deductive Reasoning in Life Science
http://www.ehow.com/info_12311785_activities-teaching-deductive-reasoning-life-science.html
What Is Inductive Teaching?
http://www.ehow.com/info_12268561_inductive-teaching.html
Games That Test Deductive Reasoning
http://www.ehow.com/info_12024970_games-test-deductive-reasoning.html
Reasoning Vs. Deductive Reasoning
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5367813_reasoning-vs-deductive-reasoning.html
Induction Vs. Deduction in Science
http://www.ehow.com/about_5341442_induction-vs-deduction-science.html
About Deductive Reasoning
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5339396_deductive-reasoning.html
BACK TO TOP
Deduction & Induction Strengths
http://www.ehow.com/info_8608601_deduction-induction-strengths.html
The Difference Between Deductive & Inductive Methods
http://www.ehow.com/info_12005845_difference-between-deductive-inductive-methods.html
Forms of Legal Reasoning
http://www.ehow.com/list_6890425_forms-legal-reasoning.html
Fun Activities Using Deductive Reasoning
http://www.ehow.com/info_12015563_fun-activities-using-deductive-reasoning.html
Inductive Methods in Economics
http://www.ehow.com/info_8418535_inductive-methods-economics.html
Difference Between Deduction & Induction
http://www.ehow.com/facts_4781689_difference-between-deduction-induction.html
Activities on Geometry & Inductive Reasoning
http://www.ehow.com/list_7793641_activities-geometry-inductive-reasoning.html
The Advantages of Writing an Inductive Essay
http://www.ehow.com/list_5840725_advantages-writing-inductive-essay.html
Science Activities & Inductive Thinking
http://www.ehow.com/info_8470389_science-activities-inductive-thinking.html
Types of Algebraic Reasoning
http://www.ehow.com/info_8563423_types-algebraic-reasoning.html
Advantages and Disadvantages of Inductive Reasoning
http://www.ehow.com/info_8491871_advantages-disadvantages-inductive-reasoning.html
The Hypothetico-Deductive Method
http://www.ehow.com/info_8718919_hypotheticodeductive-method.html
How to Teach Mathematical Logic in Secondary Schools
http://www.ehow.com/how_7914708_teach-mathematical-logic-secondary-schools.html
Deductive Reasoning Lessons
http://www.ehow.com/info_12055417_deductive-reasoning-lessons.html
Deduction approaches in research methods
http://www.ehow.com/way_5698927_deduction-approaches-research-methods.html
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 7
DEDUCTIVE
REASONING
Deductive reasoning, also deductive logic or logical deduction or,
informally, "top-down" logic, is the process of reasoning from one
or more general statements (premises) to reach a logically certain
conclusion.
Deductive reasoning links premises with conclusions. If all premises
are true, the terms are clear, and the rules of deductive logic are
followed, then the conclusion reached is necessarily true.
Deductive reasoning (top-down logic) contrasts with inductive reasoning
(bottom-up logic) in the following way: In deductive reasoning, a
conclusion is reached reductively by applying general rules that hold
over the entirety of a closed domain of discourse, narrowing the range
under consideration until only the conclusion is left. In inductive
reasoning, the conclusion is reached by generalizing or extrapolating
from initial information. As a result, induction can be used even in an
open domain, one where there is epistemic uncertainty. Note, however,
that the inductive reasoning mentioned here is not the same as induction
used in mathematical proofs – mathematical induction is actually a form
of deductive reasoning.
Deductive reasoning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deductive_reasoning
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 8
WHAT
IS
DEDUCTIVE
REASONING?
Deductive reasoning is one of the two basic forms of valid reasoning.
It begins with a general hypothesis or known fact and creates a
specific conclusion from that generalization. This is the opposite of
inductive reasoning, which involves creating broad generalizations
from specific observations. The basic idea of deductive reasoning is
that if something is true of a class of things in general, this truth
applies to all members of that class. One of the keys for sound
deductive reasoning, then, is to be able to properly identify members
of the class, because incorrect categorizations will result in unsound
conclusions.
Truth and Validity
For deductive reasoning to be sound, the original hypothesis or
generalization also must be correct. A logical deduction can be
made from any generalization, even if it is not true. If the
generalization is wrong, though, the specific conclusion can be
logical and valid but still can be incorrect.
People often use deductive reasoning without even knowing it. For
example, a parent might say to a child, "Be careful of that wasp —
it might sting you." The parent says this because he or she knows
that wasps have stingers and, therefore, that the observed wasp has
a stinger and might sting the child.
Inductive Reasoning
Inductive reasoning would work in the opposite order. The specific
observation would be that a particular wasp has a stinger. One could
then induce that all wasps have stingers. Many scientific tests
involve proving whether a deduction or induction is, in fact, true.
Inducing that all cats have orange fur because one cat has orange fur,
for example, could be easily disproved by observing cats that do not
have orange fur.
Syllogism
One of the most common and useful forms of deductive reasoning is the
syllogism. A syllogism is a specific form of argument that has three
easy steps: a major premise, a minor premise and a logical conclusion.
For example, the premise "Every X has the characteristic Y" could be
followed by the premise "This thing is X," which would yield the
conclusion "This thing has the characteristic Y." The first wasp example
could be broken up into the major premise "Every wasp has a stinger,"
the minor premise "This insect is a wasp" and the conclusion "This
insect has a stinger." Creating a syllogism is considered a good way
for deductive reasoning to be tested to ensure that it is valid.
What is Deductive Reasoning?
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-deductive-reasoning.htm
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 9
DEDUCTIVE
REASONING
RELATED
TOPICS
What Is Abductive Reasoning?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-abductive-reasoning.htm
What Is Analytic Reasoning?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-analytic-reasoning.htm
What Is Inductive Logic?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-inductive-logic.htm
What Is Deductive Logic?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-deductive-logic.htm
What Is Inductive Reasoning?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-inductive-reasoning.htm
What Is the Difference Between Inductive and Deductive Reasoning?
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-the-difference-between-inductive-and-deductive-reasoning.htm
What Is the Pythagorean Theorem?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-pythagorean-theorem.htm
What is Deductive Reasoning?
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-deductive-reasoning.htm
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 10
INDUCTIVE
REASONING
Inductive reasoning (as opposed to deductive reasoning) is reasoning
in which the premises seek to supply strong evidence for (not absolute
proof of) the truth of the conclusion. While the conclusion of a
deductive argument is supposed to be certain, the truth of the conclusion
of an inductive argument is supposed to be probable, based upon the
evidence given.
The philosophical definition of inductive reasoning is much more nuanced
than simple progression from particular/individual instances to broader
generalizations. Rather, the premises of an inductive logical argument
indicate some degree of support (inductive probability) for the conclusion
but do not entail it; that is, they suggest truth but do not ensure it.
In this manner, there is the possibility of moving from general statements
to individual instances.
Many dictionaries define inductive reasoning as reasoning that derives
general principles from specific observations, though some sources disagree
with this usage.
Inductive reasoning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductive_reasoning
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 11
BASIC
REASONING
SKILLS
LINKS
The 4-Step Guide To Critical Thinking Skills
http://www.edudemic.com/2013/06/the-4-step-guide-to-critical-thinking-skills/
Analytical Reasoning Test
http://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idRegTest=2840
At Home with Reasoning Skills
http://www.shopwiki.co.uk/d/870751/648877880/At-Home-With-Reasoning-Skills-~-Non~Verbal-(7~9)
Basic Reasoning Skills
http://education.calumet.purdue.edu/vockell/edPsybook/Edpsy7/edpsy7_reasoning.htm
Critical Thinking and Reasoning Skills Help
http://www.education.com/study-help/article/critical-thinking-reasoning-skills/
Confirmation and Induction
http://www.iep.utm.edu/conf-ind
Deductive Reasoning Examples
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/deductive-reasoning-examples.html
Four Varieties of Inductive Argument
http://www.uncg.edu/phi/phi115/induc4.htm
Inductive Logic
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/logic-inductive
Inductive reasoning
http://philpapers.org/browse/induction
Inductive reasoning
http://inpho.cogs.indiana.edu/taxonomy/2256
Learning: Reasoning:
http://www.answers.com/topic/learning-reasoning
Logical Reasoning Questions and Answers
http://www.indiabix.com/logical-reasoning/questions-and-answers/
The Miniature Guide to Understanding the Foundations of Ethical Reasoning
http://vault.hanover.edu/~ahrens/texts/Miniature%20Guide%20to%20Ethical%20Reasoning.pdf
Reasoning
http://www.speaking.pitt.edu/student/public-speaking/reasoning.html
Reasoning
http://www.education.com/reference/article/reasoning/
Reasoning in Organizations
http://www.orgreasoning.net/
Teaching Critical Thinking Skills
http://academic.udayton.edu/legaled/ctskills/ctskills01.htm
Thinking Skill: Reasoning
http://www.exforsys.com/career-center/core-skills/thinking-skill-reasoning.html
BACK TO TOP
BEHAVIOR INDEX
CHARACTER COUNTS
CHARACTER EDUCATION
WOMEN-INDEX HOME PAGE
WOMEN-INDEX HOME PAGE
BASIC REASONING SKILLS RESOURCES
PRACTICAL REASONING
E-MAIL