Question 1

Whereas deductive arguments are evaluated according to their validity, inductive arguments are evaluated according to their:

Accepted Answer

Inductive arguments are not evaluated based on their validity, as they may not necessarily have a true conclusion even if the premises are true. Instead, inductive arguments are evaluated based on their strength, which refers to how well the premises support the conclusion. A strong inductive argument provides good evidence for the conclusion, while a weak inductive argument provides little evidence. Therefore, choice A is the best answer.

Question 2

The first rule of generalization is that the sample should be sufficiently _____ and _____.

Accepted Answer

In order to make accurate generalizations, the sample size should be numerous, meaning large enough to represent the population being studied, and the sample should be various, meaning it should include a diverse range of individuals or cases. This increases the likelihood that the findings from the sample will apply to the population as a whole.

Question 3

The second rule of generalization is that we should look for _____ as well as _____ instances of a generalization.

Accepted Answer

When we look for both disconfirming and confirming instances of a generalization, we can ensure that our generalization is accurate and not based solely on biased or cherry-picked information. It is important to consider instances that go against our initial assumptions or expectations to avoid making hasty or inaccurate generalizations.

Question 4

When we look for and give weight to evidence supporting a conclusion, while ignoring, downplaying, or failing to seek evidence against it, that is called:

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias is the tendency to look for and interpret information in a way that confirms preexisting beliefs or hypotheses while disregarding or rationalizing contradictory evidence.

Question 5

An instance that confirms a generalization is called a _____ instance, whereas an instance that disconfirms a generalization is called a _____ instance.

Accepted Answer

An instance that confirms a generalization is called a positive instance because it supports or affirms the generalization. Conversely, an instance that disconfirms a generalization is called a negative instance because it contradicts or challenges the generalization.

Question 6

Inductive generalization is:

Accepted Answer

Inductive generalization is the process of drawing a general conclusion from a set of particular cases. It involves using specific examples to reach a broader conclusion. This is different from deductive reasoning, which involves applying a general principle to particular cases. Inductive generalization can be a useful tool for making predictions and formulating hypotheses, but it is important to gather sufficient evidence to support the conclusion to avoid fallacies such as hasty generalization.

Question 7

Suppose that I want to make the generalization that all college freshmen in America are financially dependent on their parents.Which of the following samples would be the best basis?

Accepted Answer

A random sampling of 2% of American college freshmen would provide the most representative sample of all college freshmen in America. The other options have limitations such as sampling bias, restricted population, or being too small of a sample size.

Question 8

In an inductive argument:

Accepted Answer

In an inductive argument, the premises provide support for the conclusion but do not guarantee it. The conclusion is a probable or likely outcome based on the evidence provided by the premises. Therefore, if the premises are true, the conclusion is also likely to be true, but it is not necessarily true.

Question 9

If we wish to make a generalization that "all S are P," how various should our sample be?

Accepted Answer

In order to make a generalization that "all S are P," the sample must include Ss that vary in every property that might be responsible for their being P. This means that the sample should be diverse and include examples of Ss that have different attributes or characteristics that might be relevant to their relationship with P.

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of induction?

Accepted Answer

Induction involves making a generalization based on specific observations. Choice D is an example of induction because it generalizes that all trains on this track have more than 50 cars based on the observation of the previous 25 trains.

Question 11

Can a strong generalization about a group of things ever be based on a single instance?

Accepted Answer

A strong generalization can be based on a single instance if there is good reason to believe that the instance is representative of the whole group. For example, if a researcher wants to make a generalization about a certain species of bird and observes a single bird that exhibits certain characteristics, they may be able to use that observation to make a broader claim about the behavior of the entire species. However, it is important to note that this is not always reliable and should be supported by further observation and data collection.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of induction?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of induction because it generalizes from specific examples (lions, cheetahs, and house cats) to make a broader statement about all felines having whiskers.

Question 13

Suppose that I want to make the generalization that no fungus contains chlorophyll.Which of the following samples would be the best basis?

Accepted Answer

E) one species from every known genus of fungus would provide the most comprehensive and representative sample for making a generalization about fungi as a whole. This approach ensures coverage across the entire taxonomic diversity of fungi, rather than focusing on a specific region, habitat, or collection, which might introduce bias or limit the scope of the generalization.

Question 14

Does every generalization have negative instances?

Accepted Answer

A true generalization, by definition, accurately reflects a pattern or principle that applies universally within its defined scope, meaning it does not have negative instances that contradict its premise.

Question 15

When a generalization is made, is it always possible to have a complete enumeration?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes there are too many instances to examine them all, making it impossible to have a complete enumeration when making a generalization.

Question 16

Suppose that I am a professional linguist with a specialization in African languages and I want to make the generalization that all African languages have an "S" sound.What would be the best way to go about looking for disconfirming instances?

Accepted Answer

To make a valid generalization, it is important to look for disconfirming instances or examples that do not fit the pattern. Listening to obscure languages that the linguist has never studied from different parts of Africa will increase the likelihood of encountering languages that do not have an "S" sound, which would disconfirm the initial generalization. Listening to well-known or populous languages may not be enough to identify disconfirming instances.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of induction?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of induction because it is drawing a conclusion based on a generalization about a group of similar objects or concepts (watches and clocks). It assumes that because clocks are accurate, all watches must also be accurate.

Question 18

Suppose that an argument has several steps.Could some of the steps be deductive while others are inductive?

Accepted Answer

An argument can contain both deductive and inductive steps. Deductive steps rely on logical inference to establish a conclusion that is necessarily true if the premises are true, whereas inductive steps draw a general conclusion from specific examples or evidence. As long as the overall argument is valid and the premises support the conclusion, the use of both deductive and inductive steps is acceptable.

Question 19

Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

It only takes one negative instance to prove that a generalization is false. This is because generalizations are based on patterns observed in a limited number of instances, and if even one instance does not fit the pattern, the generalization cannot be true for every instance. Positive instances do support a generalization, but they do not guarantee that it is true. Negative instances, on the other hand, can disprove a generalization.

Question 20

Induction by complete enumeration occurs when:

Accepted Answer

Induction by complete enumeration occurs when a generalization is based on an examination of every instance. This means that all possible cases have been considered before making a generalization.

Quiz 12: Inductive Generalizations

Whereas deductive arguments are evaluated according to their validity, inductive arguments are evaluated according to their:

The first rule of generalization is that the sample should be sufficiently _ and _.

The second rule of generalization is that we should look for _ as well as _ instances of a generalization.

When we look for and give weight to evidence supporting a conclusion, while ignoring, downplaying, or failing to seek evidence against it, that is called:

An instance that confirms a generalization is called a _ instance, whereas an instance that disconfirms a generalization is called a _ instance.

Inductive generalization is:

Suppose that I want to make the generalization that all college freshmen in America are financially dependent on their parents.Which of the following samples would be the best basis?

In an inductive argument:

If we wish to make a generalization that "all S are P," how various should our sample be?

Which of the following is an example of induction?

Can a strong generalization about a group of things ever be based on a single instance?

Which of the following is an example of induction?

Suppose that I want to make the generalization that no fungus contains chlorophyll.Which of the following samples would be the best basis?

Does every generalization have negative instances?

When a generalization is made, is it always possible to have a complete enumeration?

Suppose that I am a professional linguist with a specialization in African languages and I want to make the generalization that all African languages have an "S" sound.What would be the best way to go about looking for disconfirming instances?

Which of the following is an example of induction?

Suppose that an argument has several steps.Could some of the steps be deductive while others are inductive?

Which of the following is true?

Induction by complete enumeration occurs when: