Inductive and deductive reasoning – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B, C and D provide a balanced description of inductive and deductive reasoning. A is correct because deductive reasoning applies general principles to reach specific conclusions, while B is accurate in describing induction as moving from specific observations to broader generalisations. Statement C recognises that both forms of reasoning can complement each other in research, and D is true because deductive logic is used to derive hypotheses from established theories. Statements E and F are false: pattern recognition is central to induction, and deductive arguments yield true conclusions only when their premises are true.

Option A:
Option A includes only A and B, which are both correct but do not cover the full role of reasoning in research. By leaving out C and D, it ignores the complementary use of both reasoning types and the role of deduction in generating testable hypotheses. Because it omits true statements, this option is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it groups A, B, C and D, the four statements that together explain how inductive and deductive reasoning operate in research. It acknowledges their directions, their complementarity and their role in deriving hypotheses. Importantly, it excludes E and F, which misrepresent pattern recognition and the conditions for deductive validity.

Option C:
Option C goes wrong by adding statement E to an otherwise correct set. E inaccurately claims that induction never involves pattern recognition, whereas induction typically relies on noticing patterns in observations. Including a false statement makes this combination invalid.

Option D:
Option D includes F, which states that deductive reasoning guarantees true conclusions even if the premises are false. This is logically incorrect because the truth of a deductive conclusion depends on both valid form and true premises. By admitting F, this option cannot be accepted as correct.