Term
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Definition
Assumptions about what
is true and factual that
are sometimes stated
and sometimes implied;
these assumptions are
often taken for granted. |
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Term
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Definition
The process of finding truth
by making observations; these
observations may be from
statistical polling, controlled
experiments, or relevant
examples and analogies. |
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Term
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Definition
The process of inferring a
conclusion by putting forth
true premises in a valid format. |
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Term
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Definition
An argument that follows
formal patterns of reasoning
and is aimed at establishing
the certainty of a conclusion
through presenting true
premises in valid form. |
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Term
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Definition
An argument
structured in a correct
deductive format; an argument
structured in such a way that if
its premises are true, then its
conclusion must be true. |
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Term
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Definition
A valid
deductive argument whose
premises are true. |
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Term
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Definition
A deductive
argument usually consisting
of two premises and a
conclusion. |
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Term
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Definition
The statement in a syllogism
that sets forth a general
principle. (The major premise
contains the term that is the
predicate of the conclusion.) |
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Term
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Definition
The statement in a syllogism
that expresses an instance of
the principle set out in the
major premise. (The minor
premise contains the term
that is the subject of the
conclusion.) |
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Term
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Definition
In deductive
reasoning, the inference
drawn from the major and
minor premises of a syllogism. |
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Term
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Definition
A statement in which
members of one class are
said to be included in another
class. This statement may be
used as the major premise of a
syllogism. |
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Term
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Definition
In deductive reasoning, a
syllogism whose major premise
asserts that if the condition
cited in the first part of a
statement is true, then the
claim cited in the second part
of the statement will follow. |
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Term
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Definition
A valid conditional/
hypothetical syllogism in
which the antecedent is
affirmed. |
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Term
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Definition
See conditional syllogism. A
syllogism in which the major
premise presents a condition
(“if A, then B”) or a possibility
(“either A or B”) that is
resolved in the minor premise
so that a valid conclusion
can follow. The condition
or possibility is resolved in
the minor premise in the
form of affirmation or denial.
Conditional and disjunctive
syllogisms |
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Term
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Definition
A valid
conditional/hypothetical
syllogism in which the
consequent is denied. |
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Term
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Definition
A form
of argument that builds
and depends on a series of
conditions being met. |
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Term
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Definition
A hypothetical syllogism in
which two possibilities are
given in the major premise
and one is assumed to be
necessarily true. In the minor
premise, one of the possible
alternatives is negated, and
the remaining alternative
is then affirmed in the
conclusion. |
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Term
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Definition
A valid syllogism that seeks
to logically rule out various
possibilities until only a single
possibility remains. |
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Term
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Definition
A syllogism
with a key part or parts
implied rather than directly
stated. |
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Term
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Definition
Evidence offered
to prove a claim. Grounds can
consist of statistics, examples,
research, physical evidence,
logical reasoning, and expert
opinion. |
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Term
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Definition
Classifying
people, places, or things
solely on common traits while
ignoring individual differences
that make these comparisons
invalid. |
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Term
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Definition
The premise of a deductive
argument that is under
dispute. This is also often
called the contentious
premise. |
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Term
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Definition
often called
inductive reasoning)
The process of drawing
generalizations from known
facts or research to give
strength and support to
conclusions. |
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Term
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Definition
(often
called induction) The process
of finding truth by making
observations; inferring general
laws and truths from specific
instances. |
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Term
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Definition
Data collected by polling and
research studies that can
be used to make statistical
generalizations. |
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Term
| statistical generalizations |
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Definition
Inferences drawn from
statistical evidence that
are used to give strength to
inductive arguments. |
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Term
| characteristic of interest |
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Definition
The specific question that a
researcher seeks to answer
concerning a given population. |
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Term
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Definition
The group about which
a researcher wishes to
generalize. |
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Term
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Definition
Members of the
target population who are
studied by a researcher. |
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Term
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Definition
A quality of
a research sample in which
the sample has the same
significant characteristics in
the same proportion as the
target population. |
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Term
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Definition
A sample that
does not reflect a random,
representative population.
A biased sample does not
provide adequate evidence to
support a conclusion. |
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Term
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Definition
A condition
that allows every member of a
target population to have an
equal chance of being chosen
as part of the sample. |
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Term
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Definition
Generalizations based on
causal factors; that is, they
state that a particular factor
is responsible for a specific
effect. These generalizations
are used to strengthen
inductive arguments. |
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Term
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Definition
A condition (state of affairs,
thing, process) that must be
present if a particular effect
is present. Equivalently, if the
necessary condition is absent,
then the effect cannot occur. |
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Term
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Definition
A condition (state of
affairs, thing, process) that
automatically leads to the
production of another event.
If the condition is present,
then the effect will definitely
occur. The sufficient condition
creates or causes the effect. |
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Term
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Definition
A combination of causes that
are presumed to lead to a
specific effect. |
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Term
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Definition
A causal factor that
immediately precedes the
effect. |
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Term
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Definition
Factors or
conditions that led up to but
did not immediately precede
the effect. |
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Term
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Definition
A theory of causation
postulating that the cause of
an effect is found by noting
that X is the only factor always
present when Y (the problem
or the good effect) occurs;
therefore, X causes Y . |
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Term
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Definition
A theory of causation
postulating that the cause of
an effect is found by noting
that the only difference
between the event or effect
(called Y) happening or not
happening is whether one
element—X—is present. |
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