Let me share with you a comparison between Deductive Reasoning and Inductive Reasoning.
| Aspect | Deductive Reasoning | Inductive Reasoning |
| Introduction | · Starts with a general theory or hypothesis and seeks specific observations or evidence to support it. | · Begins with specific observations and uses them to develop a general theory or hypothesis. |
| Process | · Start with a general premise. · Apply the premise to specific cases. · Draw a specific conclusion. |
· Collect specific observations or data.
· Identify patterns or trends in the data. · Formulate a general hypothesis or theory. |
| Examples | · All living organisms are made of cells.
· If an organism is a mammal, it has a backbone. |
· Every bird can fly.
· All observed organisms in a pond have gills. |
| Limitations |
· Limited ability to discover new phenomena. |
· Generalizations may not apply to all cases. |
| Application in Biology | · Confirming or refuting hypotheses about genetic inheritance. | · Exploring patterns of behavior within a population. |