What is the difference between reasoning and inferencing skills?
There are some differences between reasoning and inferencing but the distinction is not clear-cut. Reasoning (including deductive reasoning) is typically a clear task that requires thinking one’s way through a problem to come to a logical conclusion. It therefore requires conscious effort and strategic processing. To some extent, generating inferences can be considered a form of deductive reasoning. This is because in order to generate an inference, it is necessary to process the information available and draw a conclusion that is either logically possible or logically necessary. However, generating inferences is perhaps less constrained than other forms of reasoning. Certain types of inferences are made automatically during reading (that is to say, the reader is not necessarily conscious that they are making the inferences). On the other hand, to evaluate the validity of what has been read, or to determine whether or not you agree with it, requires reasoning skill. This is sometimes r
