File:Inductive and deductive reasoning in the scientific method.svg

English: Science is an interplay between deductive and inductive reasoning. Experimentation is principally based on deductive reasoning, which starts out with a general understanding of a phenomenon and examines known possibilities (or hypotheses) using rules of logic to eliminate (or deduce) false truths to arrive at a specific conclusion. A biological example would be: "All humans are animals. All animals are eukaryotes. All eukaryotes have cells containing a nucleus. Therefore, all human cells have a nucleus." Inductive reasoning is a principle of logic directly opposite of deductive reasoning. Specific phenomena infer general predictions. In our previous example: "All human cells have a nucleus. All eukaryotes have cells containing a nucleus. All animals are eukaryotes. Therefore, all humans are animals." While science is primarily based on deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning does have its place. Observations of nature are specific in nature. As observations of a specific phenomenon amass, a researcher begins to emerge with a general understanding of that phenomenon (inductive inference), which in turn results in the development of specific hypotheses. Once hypotheses are established, experimentation produces results to reject false hypotheses and support unfalsified hypotheses. As a collection of unfalsified hypotheses get researchers closer and closer to 'the truth', inductive reasoning can be used to develop a scientific theory.