Showing papers on "Abductive reasoning published in 1980"

Inference errors in deductive reasoning

Abstract: Recent experimental research on logical reasoning has focused on a limited number of tasks. The present study reports normative data for college students on the Inference Test, a different type of task and a marker test for the factor of logical reasoning. Six difficult items are identified, and factors that might account for the errors are discussed. These factors include over-generalization, extrapolation, addition of information, and erroneous integration of information. More general issues, such as the failure to accept the deductive task and failure to consider alternative possibilities, are noted. In the main, these tendencies are consistent with the findings of other studies of logical reasoning.

A logic for strategic management

Abstract: Organizations, in our view, are epistemological systems, bodies of knowledge which are the accumulation of past debates with regard to goals, purposes, and beliefs. Policies, ' plans and strategies are current dialogues intended to change that corpus of knowledge. Consequently, a theory of argumentation is a requisite paradign for studying organizations and for solving their problems. This paper explores this point of view. The question, "How can we uncover policy arguments and assess their structure, strengths and weaknesses?" is posed and, drawing on recent developments in logical theory , some preliminary answers are provided . In summary, we see stakeholders as the basic logical entities of organizations. Assumptions are made about the status and behavior of these entities and these assumptions are treated as claims in an argument. The support for a claim is provided by data and warrents which are either stated explicitly or derived through the logical process of retroduction. The resulting collection of claims, data and warrants generally contain inconsistencies which may, in turn, be studied by means of plausibility analysis. The paper develops a logic adequate to carry out this perspective and' identifies a series of research questions. The outcome is a new approach to policy and planning.