What type of reasoning uses very specific observations to draw broader conclusions?

Inductive reasoning is the process of making broad generalizations based on specific observations or evidence. This type of reasoning starts with specific instances or examples and then formulates a general conclusion that encompasses those observations. For example, if you observe that a particular breed of dog tends to be friendly, and you continuously notice this behavior across multiple dogs of that breed, you might conclude that generally, dogs of that breed are friendly.

In contrast, deductive reasoning begins with a general statement or hypothesis and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion. Abductive reasoning involves forming a plausible explanation for observations, often with incomplete information. Comparative reasoning analyzes similarities and differences between two or more entities or situations, rather than drawing broader conclusions from specific observations. Each of these reasoning types serves a different purpose, with inductive reasoning being specifically focused on the process of deriving generalizations from specific data points.