Rigorous Reasoning
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Inductive Reasoning · Free

Induction Strength Checker

Score the structural strength of an inductive generalization or analogical argument on four objective criteria. The tool sums the criterion scores into a 0–12 total, maps to a band (Strong / Moderate / Weak / Very Weak), identifies the weakest criterion, and offers a concrete suggestion for where to focus repair. The score evaluates the form of the argument, not the truth of its conclusion — that distinction is the most important thing this tool teaches.

Used in: Inductive Logic. The full unit covers what makes a sample representative, why surface similarities don't carry analogical weight, and how sweeping conclusions overreach the evidence that supports them.
Argument type

How many cases is the generalization based on?

How varied is the sample across relevant subgroups?

How was the sample gathered? Self-selected and convenience samples carry systematic distortion.

How sweeping is the conclusion you're drawing? Stronger claims need stronger evidence.

Inductive arguments aim for probability, not certainty. Evaluating their structural strength is part of evaluating the argument well — but only part. The other parts (whether the premises are accurate, whether the inference is appropriate to the domain) are tasks for substantive judgment, not structural scoring.

Where to go next

Relevance & Sufficiency CheckerPer-premise relevance ratings + across-the-set sufficiency evaluation. The categorical complement: this tool scores inductive form; that one evaluates whether premises support the conclusion at all.Open tool →Bayesian Update ToolWhen you can quantify the likelihoods, use Bayesian updating. The Induction Strength Checker scores the structural shape of an argument; the Bayesian tool computes the actual numerical update when probabilities are available.Open tool →Argument to the Best ExplanationWhen the argument isn't strictly inductive — when you're choosing among competing explanations for a set of observations — the IBE tool walks you through the structural ranking on five fixed criteria.Open tool →Causal Reasoning AnalyzerApply Mill's methods to identify candidate causes from observational data. Generates the candidate causes whose inductive strength you'd then evaluate here.Open tool →