Final answer:
In social studies, a positive statement focuses on facts and theoretical relationships, while deductive reasoning guarantees the truth of conclusions if the premises are true. Inductive reasoning deals with probability.
Step-by-step explanation:
In social studies, a positive statement is one that focuses on facts, descriptions, and theoretical relationships. Positive statements are based on evidence, data, and can be tested to determine their truthfulness. They describe the world as it is, without expressing value judgments or opinions.
Deductive reasoning is a type of logical inference that guarantees the truth of the conclusion if the premises are true. It involves using valid argument structures, such as the disjunctive syllogism, to derive conclusions.
Inductive inferences, on the other hand, are not guaranteed to be true. They provide conclusions that are probably true based on observations and evidence. While deductive reasoning focuses on certainty, inductive reasoning deals with probability.