Inductive method , also called induction, is the reasoning process by which a person starts from particular experiences and proceeds to generalizations. A person may start with experiences of eating apples that all taste sweet. From these experiences, the person may conclude that all apples are sweet. But the next apple may not be sweet. The inductive method leads to probabilities, not certainties. It is the basis of the common sense upon which people act.
The inductive method also is used together with deduction to make scientific discoveries. In deduction, people draw particular conclusions by reasoning from general statements (see Deductive method ). To make discoveries, scientists first form general theories by using induction. From these general theories, they deduce new, particular predictions. They test these predictions through observation and experiment. The scientists may use the test results in a new inductive step to form a better general theory. Using only deduction, people could not arrive at new theories. Using only induction, people could not correct and improve theories. By combining these methods, science is able to progress.
