Applications of Analogical Reasoning

Abstract

Analogical reasoning is described as a form of inference that allows us to derive implications from single cases even when we do not know all the factors involved. In fact, its advantage over more formal types of inference may be that it can be usefully applied to situations in which there are missing data, ill-defined goals, and incomplete specification of parameters. The potential advantages of analogical reasoning methods over more formal approaches are described for the domains of generating predictions, making decisions, designing displays, and representing information. It is concluded that an understanding of reasoning by analogy may provide tools for a variety of applied problems.