Which type of reasoning moves from general theory to specific hypotheses; theory-driven?

Which type of reasoning moves from general theory to specific hypotheses; theory-driven?

• A. Deductive reasoning
• B. Inductive reasoning
• C. Social importance
• D. Theory

Answer: (A)

Deductive reasoning moves from general theory to specific hypotheses. You start with a broad theory and derive precise, testable predictions that should hold if the theory is true. Because the conclusions flow logically from the premises, a strong deductive argument yields conclusions that must follow given the starting theory. In research, this is theory-driven: the theory sets up expectations, and data are collected to see whether those expectations hold. For example, if a theory states that all mammals have hair, you can deduce that a particular mammal has hair and test whether that prediction is consistent with observation. This contrasts with inductive reasoning, which begins with specific observations and builds up to a general rule or theory. The other options aren’t about a reasoning process—social importance refers to why something matters socially, and theory is the overarching framework rather than a method of reasoning.

Deductive reasoning moves from general theory to specific hypotheses. You start with a broad theory and derive precise, testable predictions that should hold if the theory is true. Because the conclusions flow logically from the premises, a strong deductive argument yields conclusions that must follow given the starting theory. In research, this is theory-driven: the theory sets up expectations, and data are collected to see whether those expectations hold. For example, if a theory states that all mammals have hair, you can deduce that a particular mammal has hair and test whether that prediction is consistent with observation. This contrasts with inductive reasoning, which begins with specific observations and builds up to a general rule or theory. The other options aren’t about a reasoning process—social importance refers to why something matters socially, and theory is the overarching framework rather than a method of reasoning.