Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Induction | A form of inference, moving from specific observations to broader generalizations or theories. Science General |
| Industry-Funded Research | Research paid for by companies with a stake in the results. Not automatically invalid, but associated with a higher likelihood of favourable conclusions. Public Trust |
| Infectious | Capable of spreading from one person to another or from one living being to another, communicable. Vaccines |
| Inference | Inference is the logical process of arriving at a conclusion based on available evidence, clues, and prior knowledge rather than direct statements. It is commonly used across reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and machine learning to connect known facts to unknown or implicit information. Science General |
| Infodemic | An infodemic is an overwhelming, excessive amount of information—both accurate and false—that spreads rapidly during a health crisis, making it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance. Science Misinformation |
| Information Cascade | A phenomenon where individuals adopt a belief or reject a scientific claim based solely on observing the actions or statements of others in their network, regardless of the underlying evidence. Science Education |
| Infrared Radiation | Infrared radiation consists of light whose wavelength is longer than the red color in the visible part of the spectrum, but shorter than microwave radiation. Climate Change Denial |
| Inoculation Theory | A psychological framework that explains how to make beliefs resistant to persuasion, much like a medical vaccine builds immunity to a disease. By exposing individuals to weakened counterarguments along with refutations, it triggers their cognitive defenses and prepares them to resist stronger persuasive attacks. Antiscience |
| Institutional Cynicism | A systemic sociopolitical attitude characterized by a blanket, uncritical distrust of scientific bodies, regulatory agencies, and academic organizations. Science Misinformation |
| Integrative Medicine | Combining conventional treatments with complementary or alternative therapies. Critics argue it can lend legitimacy to unproven practices. Alternative Medicine |