The act of drawing conclusions based on evidence and reasoning is called?

The act of drawing conclusions based on evidence and reasoning is referred to as inference. Inferences are a critical component of reasoning, allowing individuals to take the information they have, assess it through logical reasoning, and arrive at conclusions that may not be explicitly stated. This process involves evaluating available evidence, considering the context, and synthesizing information to form a reasonable conclusion.

For example, if a teacher observes that a student consistently turns in homework late, they might infer that the student is struggling with time management or has other commitments that affect their schoolwork. The inference draws a conclusion by connecting observed behavior with underlying reasons, even if the student hasn’t communicated this directly.

Contrarily, the other terms do not capture this specific process: "assertion" refers to a confident statement of fact or belief without necessarily drawing conclusions from evidence; "speculation" involves conjecturing or theorizing about something without firm evidence, and "declaration" denotes a formal statement or announcement, which does not imply the reasoning process involved in making inferences.