Which of the following best describes deductive reasoning?

Deductive reasoning is a logical process where a conclusion is drawn from a general principle or premise to apply to a specific case. This type of reasoning begins with a general statement or hypothesis and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logically certain conclusion.

For example, if we start with the premise that "All humans are mortal" (a general principle) and we know that "Socrates is a human" (a specific case), we can deduce that "Socrates is mortal." This illustrates how deductive reasoning takes broad principles and applies them to particular instances to arrive at conclusions.

The other options involve different forms of reasoning or approaches that do not align with the definition of deductive reasoning. Making predictions based on randomized data pertains more to inductive reasoning, while understanding broad themes from personal experience focuses on interpretative reasoning rather than logical deduction. Challenging common knowledge with new perspectives does not involve the step-by-step logical progression that is characteristic of deductive reasoning.