Inductive reasoning is best defined as:

Inductive reasoning is fundamentally about drawing broader generalizations from specific observations or instances. This form of reasoning allows individuals to identify patterns or trends and propose more general theories based on them. For example, if a nurse observes that patients treated with a certain medication show improvement, they might conclude that the medication is effective for a wider population.

This process is typically utilized in scientific research and everyday reasoning where specific cases point towards a generalized conclusion. Therefore, the emphasis is on moving from particular instances to broader principles, which is the hallmark of inductive reasoning and what makes this choice the most accurate representation of the concept.