Ninth Edition CoverGraziano & Raulin
Research Methods (9th edition)

Inductive/Deductive Exercises

Induction involves observing events and drawing a conclusion based on these observations. In contrast, deduction involves making predictions based on a theory about how things work. 

In the exercises below, make the appropriate inductive or deductive inference. Then look at your rational processes in more detail. Is your inference the only one that might be drawn or could another inference be just as valid?

Induction

Draw the appropriate inductive inference from each of the following sets of observations.

  1. You observe two people playing craps (with two dice). While the one person watches in amazement, the other person suddenly rolls 7 (a 6 and 1) eight times in a row. 

  2. You are driving down the road when suddenly your car starts to sputter and within 30 seconds goes completely dead, forcing you to coast to the side of the road.

  3. While shopping in the mall, you notice 8 men waiting outside of the restrooms. 

  4. While visiting Washington, DC on vacation, you notice several police cars and police officers stopping cross traffic just moments before a motorcade of several large black cars rushes down the street.

  5. An hour into dinner, the conversation between you and your date is lively and enjoyable, and he is smiling as the two of you discuss the classes you are taking this semester.

  6. You arrive home to find your door kicked open and off its hinges.

  7. You are a police officer who has just pulled over someone for weaving in and out of his lane. When you ask for his driver's license and registration, he slurs his words, mumbling something that is unintelligible.

  8. You are driving across the country alone. You pull into a full-service gas station and request that the attendant fill your tank while you visit the restroom. When you come back, the attendant points to some fluid under the car that he says suggests that one of your shock absorbers may be going. He suggests that you pull your car into the garage for him to take a quick look just to be safe. With the car up on the lift, he says the shock absorber is definitely failing and suggests that you replace the two front ones. As he opens a large cabinet, you notice that the only parts he seems to have in stock are hundreds of boxes of shock absorbers.

  9. Over the years, you have visited your doctor several times. You notice that she is almost always on time for morning appointments, but often is an hour or more late for late afternoon appointments.

  10. A friend calls and asks if he can come over to talk about something. This friend lives across town. Within two minutes of him hanging up, he is at your door ringing the doorbell.

Deduction

Draw the appropriate deductive inference from each of the following sets of circumstances.

  1. What will happen when you insert the key into your auto ignition and turn it?

  2. What if what you expect to happen when you put the key in your auto ignition and turn it does not occur? What might be the problem?

  3. If you then notice that the headlight switch appears to be in the on position, what would you conclude?

  4. What should happen within a few minutes after you seat yourself at a restaurant?

  5. Would it make any difference if you were wearing jeans and a sweatshirt or were naked when you sat down in a restaurant?

  6. Your teacher, who is notorious for giving unannounced quizzes, walks into the room and says "Put all your notes and books on the floor and take out a pencil." What is likely to happen?

  7. You walk up to your apartment and find your very best friend standing by the door, crying, and apparently waiting for you?

  8. You are driving along a street late at night and notice a stoplight half mile down the road is green. As you get close, it is still green. What might you expect to happen?

  9. At a party, a friend of yours consumes 12 mixed drinks. What is likely to happen?

  10. At a party, a friend of yours consumes 12 diet cokes. What is likely to happen?

  11. The police officer who stopped someone for weaving and found the person slurring his words asked the person to close his eyes, put his arms out, and bring his finger to his nose without looking. What will likely happen?