deduction

Definitions of Deduction

1. (noun) A form of logical reasoning that derives a conclusion from a set of premises and the conclusion cannot be false if the premises are true.
2. (noun) Moving from the general to the particular.

Deduction Pronunciation

Pronunciation Usage Guide

Syllabification: de·duc·tion

Audio Pronunciation

International Phonetic Alphabet

• American English – /dɪˈdʌkʃən/
• British English – /dɪˈdʌkʃən/

Usage Notes

• Plural: deductions
• Deduction begins with theory, moves to hypothesis, then to prediction, and finally to testing and observation.
• Deduction is the traditional logic used in scientific research as outlined by the scientific method.
• The hypothetico-deductive model refers to the process of deduction used as research method.
• An argument derived through deduction is a deductive explanation and called a syllogism. For example,
  • All words have definitions. Deduction is a word. Therefore, deduction has a definition.
  • Rain is wet. It is raining outside. It is wet outside.
• Deduction is the opposite of induction.
• A type of reductionism.
• Also called:
  • deductive logic
  • deductive reasoning
    
  • synthesis
• A (noun) deductionist (verb) deduces (adjective) deductive or (adjective) deductional theories (adverb) deductionally.

Related Videos

Additional Information

• Qualitative Research Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
• Quantitative Research Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
• Word origin of “deduction” – Online Etymology Dictionary: etymonline.com

Related Terms

• analysis
• case
• data
• ecological fallacy
• induction
• method
• reductionism
• research
• society

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Works Consulted

Brinkerhoff, David, Lynn White, Suzanne Ortega, and Rose Weitz. 2011. Essentials of Sociology. 8th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Bruce, Steve, and Steven Yearley. 2006. The SAGE Dictionary of Sociology. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Macmillan. (N.d.) Macmillan Dictionary. (https://www.macmillandictionary.com/).

Oxford University Press. (N.d.) Oxford Dictionaries. (https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/).

Stewart, Paul, and Johan Zaaiman, eds. 2015. Sociology: A Concise South African Introduction. Cape Town: Juta.

Wikipedia contributors. (N.d.) Wiktionary, The Free Dictionary. Wikimedia Foundation. (http://en.wiktionary.org).

Cite the Definition of Deduction

ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “deduction.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved October 3, 2023 (https://sociologydictionary.org/deduction/).

APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)

deduction. (2014). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/deduction/

Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “deduction.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed October 3, 2023. https://sociologydictionary.org/deduction/.

MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)

“deduction.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2014. Web. 3 Oct. 2023. <https://sociologydictionary.org/deduction/>.