View source for Inductive reasoning aptitude

{{Refimprove|date=December 2013}}

'''Inductive reasoning aptitude''' (also called '''differentiation''' or '''inductive learning ability''') measures how well a person can [[pattern recognition (psychology)|identify a pattern]] within a large amount of data. It involves applying the rules of logic when inferring general principles from a constellation of particulars. 

Measurement is generally done in a timed test by showing four pictures or words and asking the test taker to identify which of the pictures or words does not belong in the set. The test taker is shown a large number of sets of various degrees of difficulty. The measurement is made by timing how many of these a person can properly identify in a set period of time. The test resembles the [[game]] 'Which of These Is Not Like the Others'.

[[Inductive reasoning]] is very useful for scientists, auto mechanics, [[system integrator]]s, lawyers, network engineers, medical doctors, [[system administrator]]s and members of all fields where substantial diagnostic or data interpretation work is needed. Inductive reasoning [[aptitude]] is also useful for learning a [[graphical user interface]] quickly, because highly inductive people are very good at seeing others' categorization schemes. 

==Example==
Here is an example question:

Find the set of letters that doesn’t belong with the other sets.

 A) cdef       B) mnpo        C) hikj        D) vwyx

The correct answer is...

"A", as it is the only set with four letters in sequential order, although set "D" arguably differs by both lacking a vowel and being separated from the previous set by more than one intervening letter.

==See also==
* [[Aptitude test]]
* [[Theory of multiple intelligences]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.csun.edu/~vceed002/ref/reasoning/inductive_reasoning/inductive_reasoning.html Activities for Stimulating Inductive Reasoning]
*{{cite journal |author=Chen Z, Siegler RS. |title=Across the great divide: bridging the gap between understanding of toddlers' and older children's thinking |journal=Monogr Soc Res Child Dev |volume=65 |issue=(2):i-vii |pages=i-vii, 1-96 |date=2000 |doi=10.1111/1540-5834.00074 |pmid=12467094 }} 
*{{cite journal |author=Whitebread D |title=The development of children's strategies on an inductive reasoning task |journal=Br J Educ Psychol |volume=66 |issue=Pt 1 |pages=1–21 |date=March 1996 |doi=10.1111/j.2044-8279.1996.tb01172.x |pmid=8901168 }} 

[[Category:Cognitive tests]]
[[Category:Aptitude]]
[[Category:Inductive reasoning]]