Inductive reasoning is a way to represent the general conclusion based on the observations at hand. For example, by seeing many white swans, one can hypothesize that all swans are white. While it is helpful in making predictions, this method also has its own weak points. The most significant one is that generalizations based on limited or distorted observations may be incorrect (Bowell & Kemp, 2009). One such instance is the endorsement of statistical assertions. For example, the phrase "80% of people love chocolate" expresses such an idea. Whether this claim is valid mainly depends on the data's correctness and the sample's representativeness of the general public. If the sample is not large enough or biased, one cannot be sure of the veracity of the conclusion. Moreover, the numbers can be presented in a misleading way, or be completely misinterpreted to confirm a false idea, which points to the necessity of using numbers only honestly and accurately (Bowell & Kemp, 2009). By using an analogy, reasoning becomes more logical and clearer, as it illustrates the concept by comparing two different items; this can be verified by the example "our bodies need food just as a car needs fuel." Although, the use of analogies may sometimes become the cause of the wrong outcomes if the things being compared are too different (Bowell & Kemp, 2009). Furthermore, there is a growing need for the critical evaluation of the sources of information before they are used to construct an argument. For a source to be trustworthy, it has to be from a person that has expertise in the subject at hand and that has the ability to give correct, unbiased information. Conversely, if a source is unreliable or has a clear intention to sway public opinion in a certain direction, it will weaken the argument (Bowell & Kemp, 2009). By using a combination of inductive reasoning, statistical arguments, analogies, and critical source evaluation, we can develop more logical and convincing arguments and at the same time, we can ensure that our conclusions are as valid as possible.
