Which term best matches the description Full explanations, evidence (assumptions)?

• A. Guesses
• B. Theories
• C. Inductive Reasoning
• D. Abductive Reasoning

Answer: (B)

A theory is a well-supported explanation that ties together many observations and is backed by evidence and assumptions. It goes beyond a single guess by integrating data from multiple sources, using models, and offering explanations that fit a wide range of related phenomena. Because a theory rests on substantial evidence and logical reasoning, it provides a coherent framework that can generate testable predictions and be refined as new data come in.

Guesses lack supporting evidence. Inductive reasoning describes how we generalize from many observations to broader patterns, which helps build theories but isn’t itself the complete explanatory framework. Abductive reasoning focuses on inferring the most likely explanation for a set of observations, but it’s a reasoning process rather than a comprehensive, well-supported explanation.