Inductive reasoning

=== Eliminative induction ===
[[Eliminative induction]], also called variative induction, is an inductive method in which a generalization is constructed based on the ''variety'' of instances that support it. Unlike enumerative induction, eliminative induction reasons based on the various kinds of instances that support a conclusion, rather than the number of instances that support it. As the variety of instances increases, the more possible conclusions based on those instances can be identified as incompatible and eliminated. This, in turn, increases the strength of any conclusion that remains consistent with the various instances. This type of induction may use different methodologies such as quasi-experimentation, which tests and, where possible, eliminates rival hypotheses.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hoppe|first1=Rob|title=Knowledge, Power, and Participation in Environmental Policy Analysis|last2=Dunn|first2=William N.|year=2001|publisher=Transaction Publishers|isbn=978-1-4128-2721-8|pages=419}}</ref> Different evidential tests may also be employed to eliminate possibilities that are entertained.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Schum|first=David A.|title=The Evidential Foundations of Probabilistic Reasoning|publisher=Northwestern University Press|year=2001|isbn=0-8101-1821-1|location=Evanston, Illinois|pages=32}}</ref>

Eliminative induction is crucial to the scientific method and is used to eliminate hypotheses that are inconsistent with observations and experiments.<ref name="dan" /><ref name="jm" /> It focuses on possible causes instead of observed actual instances of causal connections.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hodge|first1=Jonathan|title=The Cambridge Companion to Darwin|url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgecompani00hodg_248|url-access=limited|last2=Hodge|first2=Michael Jonathan Sessions|last3=Radick|first3=Gregory|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2003|isbn=0-521-77197-8|location=Cambridge|page=[https://archive.org/details/cambridgecompani00hodg_248/page/n189 174]}}</ref>
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