Chapter 5.2 - Anumana in Research or Scientific Study

Every research involves inference to prove its hypothesis or assumptions. Research is defined as the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusion. (Oxford dictionary) In research efforts are made to find answers in a scientific way. For example it may be asked; does administering yellow fever immunization at six months of age cause more significant adverse events compared or giving it at nine months? Or do infants born prematurely have impaired reading ability in later life? To address such questions a sample is taken and used to make inferences about the larger population.

In research, inference is made when a new observation is combined with what has already been known, to form a conclusion. This is how a hypothesis is generally formed and proved. For example; it is observed that ants only leave an ant hole during the day. It is learnt from science class that the ants that leave the ant hole are looking for food. From these, it is inferred that food can only be found by ants during daylight.

Researchers generally use statistical inferences to prove their hypothesis. Every research is aimed either to re-establish the existing fact or establish a new one or to prove a relationship. In order to do that data required are collected from various sources; analyse them using statistical methods and based on that interpret and draw conclusions. Proving or drawing conclusions from the analysis is done through inference. For example in order to find co-relation of life satisfaction between gender, data are collected, tabulated and analysed bivariately. Based on the findings from the analysis, conclusions are drawn which states ‘women are more satisfied with life than men or men are more satisfied with life than women.’ Either of the conclusions is arrived at through the inference drawn from the analysis of the data.

The concept of applying logical reasoning in solving problems or answering questions appear to have originated with the process of deductive reasoning employed. A logical syllogism consists of two or more premises or propositions followed by a conclusion. Nyayadarshana describes anumana as the act of inferring something unknown from a known data. The inferential knowledge is preceded by perception (pratyaksha) in one’s own mind (svarthanumana) through a five membered syllogism convincing others (pararthanumana).