How to Write a Logic Analysis
Write a logic analysis when making important business decisions. By analyzing the logical elements that lead to the proposed decision, you can evaluate the soundness of your company's next move. You can write a logic analysis easily if you follow some orderly steps and you know the basic logic concepts of induction, deduction, syllogism and conclusion. If you encounter any flaws, you can head off faulty decisions by exposing the lack of logic in the supporting arguments.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine if the decision you are considering is the result of inductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning goes from specific examples to conclusions. This would typically be used when a product has been test marketed. If a number of people like the product, you might conclude that the public in general would like it. If you discover inductive reasoning is the basis for a pending decision, be on guard. It is very common for the facts used to be inadequate for a conclusion. In the example, you would want to make sure enough people were tested. Drawing conclusions based on too small a sample can be disastrous..
-
2
Decide if deductive reasoning is being used in the proposed decision you are analyzing. Deductive reasoning moves from general principles to specific examples. If all buyers of products like yours have incomes at a certain level, you can conclude that your potential customers must have that income. Flaws arise when the principle is not true. You may discover the poll was not broad enough, and that in fact other types of customers buy similar products.
-
-
3
Examine syllogisms. Here is an example of a syllogism: Premise One: All men have hair. Premise Two: Jim is a man. Conclusion: Jim has hair. Watch for a faulty second premise. In the example, someone could write: Mary has hair. The conclusion, Mary is a man, would be false. The second premise must refer to the subject of Premise One, namely "all men," and not the object of "hair." If you find a decision based on the premise that all employees want benefits, and your second premise is "Jim is an employee." You can conclude Jim wants benefits. If your second conclusion were "Jim wants benefits," you could not conclude Jim was an employee.
-
4
Evaluate conclusions. In your analysis, write whether the conclusions come inevitably from the arguments leading up to them. If you can follow a clear line of inductive or deductive reasoning that is based on solid information, you have a valid conclusion. Most often, the decision you are weighing is a thesis rephrased from the conclusion. A faulty conclusion means a faulty thesis, and therefore the decision is flawed.
-
5
Write your analysis by covering all four steps in order. If one step does not apply, simply say so. In the other steps, write brief explanations of your evaluation of the logic involved. Conclude with a determination regarding whether the decision is based on sound logical principles.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
A completely logical decision may not be an effective one. Effects of a decision are hard to guess, even if the logical steps have been followed.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
