Unit 4: Knowledge, Theory and Reasoning in Nursing Practice

Responses to Learning Activity 6

Learning Activity 6: Types of Reasoning

After reading Johnson and Webber (2010, pp. 57-60), complete the following chart to compare three types of reasoning used in nursing: deductive, inductive, and abductive reasoning.

Type of Reasoning	Deductive	Inductive	Abductive
Begin process with	Facts, principles, laws generally accepted as true	Observed phenomena	Relating concepts to one another based on own observations and experience
Process	Move from general to specific to come to conclusion.	Move from specific to general. Begin with narrow concept and generalize to situation.	Develop new ideas based on conceptual thinking. Link known and unknown into new ideas.
Solution	Solution is presumed to be true as it arises from known facts.	Generate possibilities based on observations which can lead to new information.	Form new propositions or ideas.
Examples	Using knowledge of vital signs applied to assessment and determining whether readings are within norms.	Observing shoulder pain of client and linking this to past history of angina and determining that angina may be the cause of pain.	Noting in own experience that women clients experiencing angina report aching sensations only and including this as part of cardiac assessment.

Which type of reasoning is most certain as a basis for decisions? For what reason(s) is this true?
- Deductive reasoning is most certain as it is based on facts and existing knowledge.

Which type(s) of reasoning leads to the creation of new knowledge?
- Inductive reasoning as new information is created.

Which of the three types of reasoning results in knowledge that is often difficult to demonstrate or verify through research?
- Abductive as ideas and relationships are based on own experience and not as easily researched or tested.

What is dialectical reasoning? Does it fit within the three types of reasoning listed in the chart above? Provide a rationale for your answer.
- Uses a combination of the reasoning skills (deductive, inductive, and abductive) to take advantage of all the approaches and to enhance decision making.