Business Intelligence Exam Practice 2026 – Complete Prep Guide

Deresiewicz employs the metaphor of the Ladder of Inference to illustrate how individuals transition from mere observation of facts to adopting specific beliefs. This concept emphasizes the cognitive steps taken as one interprets data and experiences. The ladder represents a sequence of reasoning where each rung signifies a deeper level of understanding, moving from basic observations to more complex assumptions and conclusions.

As individuals ascend the ladder, they filter information through their existing beliefs, values, and experiences, leading them to draw interpretations that may reinforce or challenge their views. This metaphor captures how easily one can jump to conclusions based on limited evidence, highlighting the importance of critically evaluating the steps taken along this ladder to arrive at reasoned beliefs. The other options do not specifically delineate this structured process of reasoning and interpretation as effectively as the Ladder of Inference does.