Scientific Inquiry Reasoning Research

The analysis of patterns of scientific inquiry provided by John Dewey can be simplified as the process from data to hypothesis and then to conclusion. The process from data to hypothesis uses inferential modes including various types of inductive reasoning and abductive reasoning. Inferential patterns used in the process from hypothesis to conclusion are modes of deduction, including both monotonic and non-monotonic reasoning. Based on the analysis of various types of reasoning, and by using concepts, technologies and ideas from dynamic epistemic logic, we give cognitive interpretations for them from the perspective of information input and output.Using technologies and methods of modern logic, we analyze types of inductive reasoning. We eliminate some types of reasoning which looks like inductive reasoning but are deductive by nature from the area of inductive reasoning. And we also analyze the non-necessary feature of proper inductive reasoning from the modal perspective. Especially, we revisit Mill's five methods and characterize Mill's inductive reasoning by using hybrid logic in contemporary modal logic. By the method of updating model from dynamic epistemic logic, we give cognitive analysis for various types of inductive reasoning, and construct cognitive models which explain features of inductive reasoning. The nature of this method is to identify the possibility of the conclusion by deleting states using information input starting from the cases of truth values of involved propositions. Finally, we also explore the cognitive value of inductive reasoning.The abductive reasoning is another specific type of inference from data to hypothesis. For this type of reasoning, we explore different types of abductive reasoning from three aspects:propositional logic, syllogism and predicate logic. Propositional abductive reasoning is mainly concerned with the use of implication. We also analyze use of other propositional connectives in abductive reasoning by definitions of them in propositional logic. There are four propositional forms in syllogism: A, E, I, O. Abductive reasoning involved in using them is analyzed. From the perspective of modem predicate logic, syllogistic abductive reasoning can be converted into abductive reasoning in predicate logic. We also analyze modal concepts of tense and causation involved in abductive reasoning. From the perspective of information input and output, we construct corresponding cognitive models for various types of abductive reasoning which reflect dynamics of information and the non-necessary feature of abduction. As far as the scientific hypothesis as the middle stage of scientific inquiry, we explore its definition, general features, patterns and types. Further more, we analyze the cognitive meaning of scientific hypothesis by comparing the conception of hypothesis provided by Hu Shi with that by Karl Popper. Finally, we also explain the cognitive function of scientific hypothesis from the following aspects:raising the level cognition, cultivation of creative thinking, making inquiry scientific, and approximation of scientific truth. Scientific hypothesis as the end point of inductive or abductive reasoning is also the starting point of the process from hypothesis to conclusion. The scientific property of hypothesis has direct influence on the success of scientific inquiry. It has a very important status in scientific inquiry.The process of scientific inquiry from hypothesis to conclusion use deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning is divided into to types:monotonic and non-monotonic reasoning. The former plays an important role in scientists'inquiry, while the latter plays an important role in ordinary scientific inquiry. We study the general features of those two types of reasoning. Then we make use of the method of updating models from dynamic epistemic logic to explain dynamics of information in deductive reasoning. The process of deductive reasoning is essentially the dynamic process from information contained in premises. For non-monotonic reasoning, we especially explore its cognitive meaning from the perspective of belief update. We also explore the relations between inductive reasoning and others in their cognitive value.