What does the term "deduce" refer to in scientific reasoning?

The term "deduce" in scientific reasoning refers to the process of drawing a conclusion based on available information, data, or premises. This involves logically interpreting the information to arrive at a specific conclusion that is supported by evidence or reasoning. For example, if a scientist observes a specific pattern in data, they might deduce that there is a relationship between two variables based on that evidence.

This is distinct from other processes such as making assumptions based on untested hypotheses, which can lead to potential biases or inaccuracies. Summarizing existing information does not involve the critical reasoning required to deduce new conclusions, and evaluating conflicting data pertains more to comparing different sets of information rather than deriving a conclusion from given data. Thus, deducing involves utilizing logical reasoning to create new insights from the patterns or information at hand.