WHAT IS ANALOG REASONING? (WITH EXAMPLES) - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The analogical reasoning is a type of inductive reasoning character in which two different situations are related but satisfy the same logic protected by a particular process.

Applying analogical reasoning, it is possible to reach a conclusion, based on previously established premises and establishing a comparison between the two, in order to obtain a result that is the product of an analogy.

With this type of reasoning, it is possible to reach different conclusions on a day-to-day basis. Through the application of analogical reasoning, millions of people make important decisions in their lives, including their participation in political life in acts such as voting, or in commerce through the purchase of a product.

Analog reasoning is used in cognitive tests of a psychological and social nature. Also, questions of this type are frequently included in admission tests, because through correct reasoning, knowledge of the world and the environment can be understood, as well as vocabulary and language comprehension.

For the realization of scientific experiments, the analogical reasoning is prevailing. It is also frequently used in medicine, because the human body is a group where each situation generates causes and consequences that can be understood within the framework of analogical reasoning.

Examples of analog reasoning

Analog reasoning is applied in many sectors of everyday life. Generally, this type of reasoning is not applied consciously, so its understanding is made only when its contextualization and later its application is explained. Some examples are:

1. Buying a product

When a person goes to a supermarket, they will buy products that they need for different reasons. In the current system, products are marketed through brands, which must gain prestige to be successful.

One of the most prevalent analog reasonings right now is that if one product from a certain brand worked well, another product from the same brand will do as well. The same can be applied in the opposite direction.

The brand A cleaner was very effective, so the brand A soap must be good too.

2. Electoral processes and voting

In this sense, a logic similar to that of trade is applied. When a person thinks that a public official of a party has done well, he may conclude that the other candidates for that political party will also do well.

The same can be applied to a civil servant who intends to run for re-election. If the person thinks they did it wrong in their first period, they can conclude that they will continue to do it wrong in the second.

Mr. Gonzalo Rodríguez has done very well as a councilor, so I think he will continue to do a good job if he wins the next elections.

3. Health-related

Regardless of whether or not you are a health professional, the symptoms of diseases and various ailments can be indicative of something, and therefore logical reasoning can be applied to them.

If colds are known to cause a lot of sneezing, and someone has a cold, then it stands to reason that they are sneezing a lot.

Health professionals use this type of analogical reasoning based on their experience and their studies to be able to determine what is happening in each organism and why it behaves in a certain way.

If one of the symptoms of Zika is a skin rash, and my friend Javier has such a rash, he may have Zika.

4. Application in psychology

Psychologists of different types study the psyche of people and how is their behavior with their environment. In this sense, the application of analogical reasoning can be very useful for the analysis that is being carried out.

If a psychologist realizes that one of his patients responds negatively to an action or attitude, it may be that when he sees something similar, the response is very similar.

Emotions are often applied in the form of analogy, and respond to instincts that the person has and that are manifested in society. The study of these is done in a meticulous way.

If Kassandra gets upset when her mom arrives, she will probably be upset when her mom talks to her.

5. Use in natural sciences

Analogies have been very present in the understanding of natural sciences, when analyzing the causes and consequences that arise.

In the biological branch, analogical reasoning is very common for understanding the spaces in which species inhabit, as well as the molding of their behavior up to the present time.

For chemistry, a similar behavior occurs by means of which the existence of new elements that have not yet been found or synthesized can be inferred, according to their atomic number.

The atomic number of the elements determines the number of protons and electrons that an atom of that element has. Currently 118 have been found, but it can be assumed that there will be a 119.

6. Linguistic vocabulary tool

This is one of the most common types for which analog reasoning is used. It is generally applied directly to test understanding of certain factors related to language.

This type of reasoning is usually asked in tests that require reading comprehension and also a basic knowledge of the vocabulary used that is also going to be used.

Analogies also serve to understand the etymology of words and their relationship with others of similar origin. When asked to complete an analogical reasoning, it is done with the dual purpose of understanding whether the logic used is being understood and whether the necessary level is available for understanding and analyzing the question.

Dog is to animal, what rose is to plant.

Dictatorship is to democracy, what sea is to land.

Clothes are pants, what instrument is guitar.

References

1. Arismendi, M., Fiorentini, L., Primero, G., Tabullo, A., Vanotti, S., and Yorio, A. (2012). Analog reasoning from the relational frame theory model. Revista Brasileira de Terapia Behavioral e Cognitiva, 14 (1), 57-73.
2. Benítez, R. and García, G. (2010). Verbal Analog Reasoning: An Essential Cognitive Skill of Written Production. Onomázein, 165-194.
3. Bolívar, C. and Ríos, A. (2009). Verbal reasoning and analogical thinking. Solution to academic problems. Rosario, Argentina: Lessons in Medicine and Health Sciences. Rosario University
4. Oliva, J. (2004). Analogical thinking from educational research and from the perspective of the science teacher. Electronic Journal of Science Education, 3 (3), 363-384.
5. Online Psychology. (sf). Introduction to analogical reasoning. Online Psychology. Recovered from psychology-online.com.
6. Salmon, M. (2012). Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking. Cengage Learning.
7. Valenzuela, C. (November 15, 2011). Analog reasoning. Critical thinking. Recovered from pen-cri.blogspot.com.