Week 4 Discussion: Part 2

Hypothetico-Deductive reasoning (HDR) Process through which a formal thinker systematically tests possible solutions to a problem and arrives at an answer that can be defended and explained. Enables one to consider the logical implications of a set of premises whether or not one accepts those premises.

HDR is not an innate skill. It must be learned and practiced. It also takes a good amount of awareness and mental effort to engage in it as well. However…

An individual’s ability to engage in this type of thought marks a developmental milestone in the context of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development in which the individual has clearly moved from the preformal childhood stage into the formal operational stage of cognition. The difference in cognitive capability, according to Piaget, is that an individual who is processing the information preformally equates logic with truth because all possibilities are direct extensions of reality. Therefore, there are no possibilities that exist outside of reality. Here the individual who has picked 1 rejects the logical argument because the information is not true. They do not reject it because it is illogical.

On the other hand a formal operational thinker will select 2 as being correct despite the statement containing information that is not true. This occurs because a formal operational thinker actually reverses the relationship between reality and possibilities. In their case reality becomes dependent on possibilities rather than possibilities being dependent on reality. They are, in essence, engaging in hypothetical thought. Free from a state of mind focused on a reality defined by what their experiences tell them can be, and exploring what reality could be.

Read the Week 4 course materials and watch the following link for a better understanding of Piagets theory of cognitive development:

Read Arnett text – Chapter 3- Section 2 (3.2)

After you have reviewed these materials answer the following question:

Why is it so important to be able to distinguish logic from truth as we, as scientists, try to construct a consensus interpretation of reality?

Your Response to the prompt is due Friday 2/20 at 11:59pm

Respond to the threads of at least 2 classmates by Sunday 2/22 by 11:59pm