Objective 10-1
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, or visa versa.
Objective 10-2
Know what inductive syllogisms, inductive generalizations, and analogical arguments are and how they differ. Objective 10-3
Learn the proper use of samples. - Know the definition of samples.
- Understand what makes a sample biased or representative.
Objective 10-4
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
Understand how all the formal properties of full-scale scientific inquiries also apply to everyday inductive reasoning. Objective 10-6
Be familiar with the fallacies and other failings that can plague inductive reasoning. - Know what the fallacies of hasty generalization, biased generalization, anecdotal evidence, and illicit inductive conversions 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.
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