Generalization

When reading chapter 7 in the Boss Text, the section that was talking about generalization stood out to me. Generalization is when we draw a conclusion about a certain characteristic of a group or population on the basis of a sample from the group. An example of generalization would be if you were to sneeze whenever you are around your friend’s dog, your roommate’s dog, and even your cousin’s dog.  Based on these experiences, you would conclude that all dogs would make you sneeze. It is said that scientists frequently use arguments based on generalization.  The use of polls, surveys, and sampling can help you to make inductive generalizations.  Polls are a type of survey that involves collecting opinions or information on a subject from a sample group of people for the purpose of analysis.  Polls help to provide a window into how people think and feel. Sampling entails selecting only some members of a class or group and then making a generalization abut the whole population that is based o the characteristics of these members. Sometimes if the sample is too big to poll, they use what is called a representative sample.  A representative sample is one that is similar in relevant respects to the larger population. To get a representative sample, most professional pollsters use a method known as random sampling.  Random sampling is when every member of the population a has an equal chance of becoming part of the sample.

Dr. Novella & Joe Camel Ads

Dr. Novella was able to use cause and effect inductive reasoning to find a solution to the problem of smoking among children and teens.  She did this by relating the cause of young people smoking with the ads.  Dr. Novella had used her ability to think critically to see that in 1988 when Joe Camel ads for Camel Cigarettes came out there was an increase in the number of teens smoking.  She noticed that young teens were being easily persuaded into smoking because of the ads that Joe Camel.  When looking at the number of teens that were beginning to smoke before the ads and after, she was able to see the increased number after the ads had been published.  She saw that the ads were influencing the teens to begin smoking decided she had to do something.  Because she had saw the relationship of teens smoking with the ads, you can see that this is a cause and effect. Though she did know for a fact that this was the reason teens were beginning to smoke, she was able to notice a strong relationship.

Inductive Arguments

I have never realized how much I actually use inductive reasoning in my daily life. It has become something that I do on a normal basis even when I don’t notice.  For example, the last time I ate a mango I had an allergic reaction and I broke out with a rash on my face. I have had mangos before but when I ate another mango recently I broke out again.  With that in mind, I was able to conclude by inductive thinking that I am indeed allergic to mango skin. When breaking down this situation, I was able to see that mango was the only thing that I ate out of the ordinary. The second premise could be that when I peeled my own mango it gave me the rash on my face. So from both of those premises, I was able to conclude that I am allergic to mango skin. I know that sometimes inductive reasoning can be wrong but it lead me to go to the doctors and see if I was really allergic.  When I went to the doctors and explained everything to him, he concluded that I was actually allergic to mango skin.

Types of Deductive Arguments

There are 3 types of deductive argument: the arguments by elimination, arguments based on mathematics, and arguments by definition.  The argument by elimination is when you rule out different possibilities until only one possibility remains. This type of argument is used everyday.   Physicians are trained in this type of deductive logic especially when they are diagnosing an illness. When they diagnosis an illness, a physician starts by doing a physical examination and often by ordering tests. The arguments based on mathematics are when the conclusion depends on mathematical or geometrical calculations. For example, when you say that your dormitory is rectangular in shape. One side measures 11 feet and the side adjacent to it measures 14 feet in length.  Some arguments based on mathematics may be quite complex and require mathematical expertise. An argument by definition is when the conclusion is true because it is based on a key term or essential attribute n a definition.