Inductive argument

Argument by example:

Diet food consumer #1 is fatter as compared to one who does not.

Diet food consumer #2 is fatter as compared to one who does not.

Diet food consumer #3 is fatter as compared to one who does not.

Therefore, all consumers of diet food are fat.

Argument by analogy:

People who drink alcohol are found to have a higher rate of stress.

People who smoke are believed to have higher rates of stress and dissatisfaction.

People who smoke are like those who drink alcohol. They all have a similar element as they all have higher rates of stress.

Argument from authority:

The surgeon general states that smoking causes lung disease.

Therefore smoking causes lung disease.

Argument about causes:

Lower temperatures are experienced at high altitudes

Therefore, higher altitude causes lower temperatures.

 

Correlation vs. causation

            Causational relationship may exist but it is important to understand that the weight of the evidence greatly influences the correlation rather not by observation. The problem between the two is that correlation is totally different from causation. Correlation is involved with two or more things and it tends to happen at the same time and is majorly interrelated with each other but they are rather not necessary related through a cause and effect connection (Wallace & Van 2012). Correlations can thus be observed and is common in many researches and is regarded as the basis for the hypothesis testing of the true causal connection. However, causation may require an experiment to prove the argument; therefore the generalization that a given element causes the other should not be made basing on the fact that these two elements are correlated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Wallace, D. P., & Van, F. C. (2012). Knowledge into action: Research and evaluation in library and information science. Santa Barbara, California: Libraries Unlimited.