Following are the main learning objectives from the chapter. To help you coordinate your studies, these objectives are organized into sub-sections (10-1, 10-2, etc.) and listed with the relevant page numbers from the textbook.
Objective 10-1
(See page(s) 357-359)
Understand what inductive arguments are.
Know the definition of an inductive argument.
Understand how every inductive argument uses a sample to come to know a target.
Objective 10-2
(See page(s) 359-361)
Know what inductive generalizations and analogical arguments are and how they differ.
Objective 10-3
(See page(s) 361-363)
Learn the proper use of samples.
Know the definition of samples.
Understand what makes a sample biased or representative.
Objective 10-4
(See page(s) 363-369)
Grasp the strategy and method of formal inductive arguments.
Understand how a political poll is administered.
Understand the purpose of random selection in setting up a generalization.
Master use of the terms "error margin" and "confidence level" and know how they are related to sample size.
Objective 10-5
(See page(s) 369-372)
Understand how all the formal properties of full-scale scientific inquiries also apply to everyday inductive reasoning.
Objective 10-6
(See page(s) 372-379)
Be familiar with the fallacies and other failings that can plague inductive reasoning.
Know what the fallacies of hasty conclusion and anecdotal evidence are.
Understand what ills can befall polls: the self-selected sample, the slanted question.
See how the principle called the law of large numbers is crucial to assessing inductive arguments.
Differentiate between the law of large numbers and the gambler's fallacy.
