He Analogical reasoning Is a type of inductive reasoning in which two different situations are related but that respond to the same logic covered in a given process.
Applying analogical reasoning, it is possible to reach a conclusion, based on previously established premises and establishing a comparison between the two, in order to obtain a result of an analogy.
With this type of reasoning, it is possible to reach different conclusions in the day to day. Through the application of analogical reasoning, millions of people make important decisions in their lives, including their participation in political life in acts such as voting, or in commerce through the purchase of a product.
Analogical reasoning is used in cognitive tests of a psychological and social nature. Also, questions of this type are frequently included in admission tests, because through their correct reasoning can understand the world's knowledge and environment, as well as lexicon and language understanding.
For the realization of scientific experiments, the analogical reasoning is prevailing. It is also frequently used in medicine, because the human body is a set where each situation generates causes and consequences that can be understood in the framework of analogical reasoning.
Examples of analogical reasoning
Analogous reasoning applies in many areas of everyday life. Generally, this type of reasoning is not applied in a conscious way, so its understanding is made only when its contextualization and later its application is explained. Some examples are:
1. Purchase of a product
When a person goes to a supermarket, they will buy products that they need for different reasons. In the current system, products are marketed through brands, which in order to succeed must gain prestige.
One of the most common analogical reasoning at the moment is that if a product of a particular brand worked well, another product of the same brand will also. The same can be applied in the opposite direction.
The brand A cleaner was very effective, so the brand A soap should be good too .
2. Electoral processes and voting
In this sense, a logic similar to that of commerce is applied. When a person thinks that a public office of a party has done well, he may conclude that the other candidates for that political party will also do well.
The same can be applied to a public official who intends to run for re-election. If the person thinks that he did it wrong in his first period, he can conclude that he will continue doing it wrong in the second.
Mr. Gonzalo Rodriguez has done very well as a councilman, so I think he will continue to do a good job if he wins the next election .
3. Health Related
Regardless of whether or not a health professional is, the symptoms of diseases and various ailments may be indicative of something, and therefore be reasoned logically.
If colds are known to cause many sneezes, and someone has a cold, it is logical to think that he will be sneezing a lot.
Health professionals use this type of analogical reasoning based on their experience and their studies in order to determine what happens in each organism and why it behaves in a certain way.
If one of the symptoms of zika is a rash, and my friend Javier has a rash of this type, you may have zika .
Four. Application in psychology
Psychologists of different types study the psyche of people and how their behavior is with their environment.
In that sense, the application of analogical reasoning can be very useful for the analysis that they are doing.
If a psychologist realizes that one of his patients responds negatively to an action or attitude, it may be that when you see something similar, the response is very similar.
Emotions are often applied in the form of analogy, and respond to instincts that the person has and that manifest in society. The study of these is done in a thorough way.
If Kassandra gets upset when her mom arrives, she'll probably get upset when her mother talks to her. .
5. Use in the natural sciences
Analogies have been very present in the understanding of the natural sciences, analyzing the causes and consequences that arise.
In the biological branch, the analogical reasoning is very common for the understanding of the spaces in which the species inhabit, as well as the molding of their behavior until the present moments.
For the chemistry a similar behavior is presented by means of which one can infer the existence of new elements that have not yet been found or synthesized, according to their atomic number.
The atomic number of the elements determines the amount of protons and electrons that an atom of that element has. Currently 118 have been found, but it can be assumed that there will be a 119 .
6. Vocabulary tool
This is one of the most common types for which analogical reasoning is used. Generally, it is applied directly to test the understanding of certain factors related to language.
It is usually asked this type of reasoning in tests that require reading comprehension and in addition, a basic knowledge of the vocabulary used that will be used.
Analogies also serve to understand the etymology of words and their relation to others of similar root. When asked to complete an analogical reasoning, it is done with the dual purpose of understanding if one is understanding the logic used and if one has the necessary level for the understanding and analysis of the question.
Dog is an animal, what pink is the plant .
Dictatorship is to democracy, what sea is to earth .
Clothing is in pants, what instrument is the guitar .
References
- Arismendi, M., Fiorentini, L., First, G., Tabullo, A., Vanotti, S., and Yorio, A. (2012). The analogical reasoning from the model of the relational framework theory. Brazilian Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy , 14 (1), 57-73.
- Benítez, R. and García, G. (2010). Verbal analogical reasoning: an essential cognitive ability of written production. Onomázein , 165-194.
- Bolivar, C. and Ríos, A. (2009). Verbal reasoning and analogical thinking. Solution to academic problems . Rosario, Argentina: Lessons in Medicine and Health Sciences. University of Rosario
- Oliva, J. (2004). Analogic thinking from educational research and from the perspective of the science teacher. Electronic Journal of Teaching of Sciences, 3 (3), 363-384.
- Psychology Online. (S.f.). Introduction to analogical reasoning. Online Psychology . Retrieved from psychology-online.com.
- Salmon, M. (2012). Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking. Cengage Learning.
- Valenzuela, C. (November 15, 2011). Analog reasoning. Critical thinking . Recovered from pen-cri.blogspot.com.