inferences
Conclusions from evidence
Inferences are conclusions drawn from evidence or reasoning rather than direct observation.
If you see wet streets and people carrying umbrellas, you infer it rained—that's an inference.
The word appears frequently in academic and legal contexts: The jury was asked to draw inferences from the circumstantial evidence.
In logic and statistics, inference is the formal process of deriving conclusions from premises or data.
Testable proposed explanation
- abductionUnlawful seizure of person
- inductionFormal admission process
- rationaleStated basis for action
- extrapolationExtending data beyond bounds
generalization · speculation · theorizing · conjecture · supposition · assumption · presupposition · interpretation
Formal deductive argument structure
- premiseFoundation for logical argument
- conclusionEnd or deduction
- entailmentLogical necessity from premises
- implicationIndirect suggestion or consequence
contrapositive · validity · soundness · predicate · antecedent · consequent · deductive · proof
Mental comprehension of something
- realizationGrasping what's true
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- intuitionInstinctive immediate understanding
implication · subtext · meaning · interpretation · conclusion · takeaway · lesson · recognition
Unverified belief accepted as true
- presumptionBelief held without proof
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- readingInterpreting written text
- impressionEffect on the mind
attribution · profiling · stereotyping · bias · misreading · tone · intent · motive
Facts for analysis
- patternsRecurring arrangements or designs
- statisticsCollected numerical information
- correlationStatistical relationship measure
- variablesChangeable elements in equations
sampling · measurement · empirical · quantitative · qualitative · analytics · predictive · computational
hypothesis
Testable proposed explanation
- abductionUnlawful seizure of person
- inductionFormal admission process
- rationaleStated basis for action
extrapolation · generalization · speculation · theorizing · conjecture · supposition · assumption · presupposition · interpretation · judgment
syllogism
Formal deductive argument structure
- premiseFoundation for logical argument
- conclusionEnd or deduction
- entailmentLogical necessity from premises
implication · contrapositive · validity · soundness · predicate · antecedent · consequent · deductive · proof · theorem
understanding
Mental comprehension of something
- realizationGrasping what's true
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
intuition · implication · subtext · meaning · interpretation · conclusion · takeaway · lesson · recognition · apprehension
assumption
Unverified belief accepted as true
- presumptionBelief held without proof
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- readingInterpreting written text
impression · attribution · profiling · stereotyping · bias · misreading · tone · intent · motive · subtext
data
Facts for analysis
- patternsRecurring arrangements or designs
- statisticsCollected numerical information
- correlationStatistical relationship measure
variables · sampling · measurement · empirical · quantitative · qualitative · analytics · predictive · computational · algorithmic
inferencesfacts
Verifiable pieces of truth
observations · evidence · data · raw data · perceptions
inferencescertainties
Assured truths
proofs · self-evident truths · givens · hard evidence · demonstrations
inferencesintuitions
Unlearned immediate understandings
gut feelings · instincts · revelations · recognitions · realizations
- logical inferenceConclusion derived through reasoning