Final answer:
Scientific reasoning is a method of logical thinking used by scientists to understand the world and how it operates. There are two types of scientific reasoning: inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientific reasoning is a method of logical thinking used by scientists to understand the world and how it operates. There are two types of scientific reasoning: inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning involves using specific results to form general scientific principles, while deductive reasoning uses logical thinking to predict results based on scientific principles or practices.
For example, inductive reasoning may involve observing several birds and noticing that they all have feathers. From this observation, a scientist might form the general principle that all birds have feathers. Then, deductive reasoning could be used to predict that a newly discovered bird species will also have feathers, based on the general principle that all birds have feathers.
Scientists use scientific reasoning to develop hypotheses, conduct investigations, analyze data, and draw conclusions. It is a systematic and logical approach to gaining knowledge about the natural world.