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Week 2
key terms
39
Other
Undergraduate 1
06/12/2014

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Term
Reality assumptions
Definition
Assumptions about what is true and factual that are sometimes stated and sometimes implied; these assumptions are often taken for granted.
Term
Inductive reasoning
Definition
The process of finding truth by making observations; these observations may be from statistical polling, controlled experiments, or relevant examples and analogies.
Term
Deductive reasoning
Definition
The process of inferring a conclusion by putting forth true premises in a valid format.
Term
Deductive argument
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.
Term
Valid argument
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.
Term
Sound argument
Definition
A valid deductive argument whose premises are true.
Term
Syllogism
Definition
A deductive argument usually consisting of premises and a conclusion.
Term
Major premise
Definition
The statement in a syllogism that sets forth a general principle.
Term
Minor premise
Definition
The statement in syllogism that expresses an instance of the principle set out in the major premises.
Term
Conclusion
Definition
In deductive reasoning, the inference drawn from the major and minor premise of a syllogism.
Term
Categorical statement
Definition
A statement in which members of one class are said to be included in another class.
Term
Conditional syllogism
Definition
IN deductive reasoning, a syllogism whose major premise asserts that if the condition sited in the first part of a statement is true, then the claim cited in the second part of the statement will follow.
Term
Modus ponens
Definition
A valid conditional/hypothetical syllogism in which the antecedent is affirmed.
Term
Hypothetical syllogism
Definition
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.
Term
Modus tollens
Definition
A valid conditional/hypothetical syllogism in which the consequent is denied.
Term
Chain argument
Definition
A form of argument that builds and depends on a series of conditions being met.
Term
Disjunctive syllogism
Definition
A hypothetical syllogism in which two possibilities are given in the major premise and one in 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.
Term
Argument by elimination
Definition
A valid syllogism that seeks to logically rule out various possibilities until only a single possibility remains.
Term
Enthymeme
Definition
A syllogism with a key part or parts implied rather than directly stated.
Term
Grounds
Definition
Evidence offered to prove a claim. Can consist of statistics, examples, research, physical evidence, logical reasoning, and expert opinion.
Term
Stereotyping
Definition
Classifying people, places, or things solely on common traits while ignoring individual differences that make these comparisons invalid.
Term
Premise of contention
Definition
The premise of a deductive argument that is under dispute.
Term
Induction
Definition
The process of drawing generalizations from known facts or research to give strength and support to conclusions.
Term
Statistical evidence
Definition
Data collected by polling and research studies that can be used to make statistical generalizations.
Term
Statistical generalizations
Definition
Inferences drawn from statistical evidence that are used to give strength to inductive arguments.
Term
Character of interest
Definition
The specific question that a researcher seeks to answer concerning a given population.
Term
Target population
Definition
The group about which a researcher wishes to generalize.
Term
Sample
Definition
Members of the target population who are studied by a researcher.
Term
Representative
Definition
A quality of a research sample in which the sample has the same significant characteristics in the same proportion as the target population.
Term
Biased
Definition
A sample that does not reflect a random, representative population. Does not provide adequate evidence to support a conclusion.
Term
Randomness
Definition
A condition that allows every member of a target population to have an equal chance of being chosen as part of the sample.
Term
Causal Generalizations
Definition
Generalizations based on casual factors; that is, they state that a particular factor is responsible for a specific effect.
Term
Necessary condition
Definition
A condition (state of affairs, thing, process) that must be present if a particular effect is present. If absent, the effect cannot occur.
Term
Sufficient condition
Definition
A condition (state of affairs, thing, process) that automatically leads to the production of another event.
Term
Multiple Causes
Definition
A combination of causes that are presumed to lead to a specific effect.
Term
Immediate Causes
Definition
A casual factor that immediately precedes the effect.
Term
Remote Causes
Definition
Factors or conditions that led up to but did not immediately precede the effect.
Term
Method of Agreement
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) occurs; therefore, X causes Y.
Term
Method of Difference
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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