Which of the following statements is true about reasoning from specific instances in cognitive psychology?

• A. It is unrelated to the formation of stereotypes.
• B. It is the process of applying a general rule to a specific situation.
• C. It always leads to logically certain conclusions.
• D. It involves drawing general conclusions based on observations of particular cases.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that reasoning from specific instances refers to the cognitive process where individuals observe particular cases or examples and then draw broader generalizations or conclusions from them.
2. Recognize that this type of reasoning is often called inductive reasoning, which contrasts with deductive reasoning (applying a general rule to a specific case).
3. Note that inductive reasoning does not guarantee logically certain conclusions because it is based on probability and patterns observed, rather than absolute proof.
4. Acknowledge that this process is related to stereotype formation, as stereotypes often arise from generalizing specific observations about individuals to an entire group.
5. Summarize that the true statement about reasoning from specific instances is that it involves drawing general conclusions based on observations of particular cases.