CLOSURE AS IT RELATES TO DEDUCTIVE, INDUCTIVE, AND ABDUCTIVE REASONING.

The present study, which investigated closure as it relates to deductive, inductive, and abductive reasoning, was based on the assumption that closure processes as understood in perception, were the same or similar to closure processes in reasoning. Closure, primarily investigated in perception, is described as the phenomenal completion of incomplete stimuli; closure in reasoning is defined as the completion of open structures inherent in deductive, inductive, and abductive processes. Closure, as understood in deductive reasoning, utilizes syllogism to facilitate the reasoning process. The syllogism is considered an open structure that calls for closure. The fundamental nature of inductive reasoning is that it allows for modification of the original premise based on supportive information. Because it allows for modification, inductive reasoning is considered an open structure that calls for closure. In abductive reasoning, the observed event presents as a problem that is incomplete and calls for closure. Closure is achieved by formulating and testing hypotheses and eliminating hypotheses that do not explain all aspects of the observed event. In the present study, closure in perception provided a fruitful approach to the study of closure in reasoning processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]