What does “inductive reasoning” involve?

Inductive reasoning involves drawing general conclusions from specific observations. This method begins with specific instances or examples and works towards forming broader generalizations or theories. For instance, if you observe that the sun rises in the east every morning for several days, you may conclude that the sun always rises in the east. This form of reasoning is particularly valuable in scientific contexts, where data is often collected through specific observations or experiments before arriving at general principles or laws.

In contrast, testing hypotheses through experimentation is more aligned with the scientific method and deductive reasoning, which starts with a general theory and seeks to confirm it with specific experiments. Using data to predict future trends involves extrapolating from existing data, which is a practical application of inductions but is not the essence of inductive reasoning itself. Lastly, eliminating alternative explanations is a crucial part of hypothesis testing in research but does not pertain directly to inductive reasoning, which focuses on generating conclusions rather than excluding possibilities.