Abstract

The present study argues that a prediction inference is a cognitive/discursive process fundamentally of argumentative nature. From this theoretical premise, this empirical study investigated, in a procedural manner, the production of predictive inferences by seven university students, using individual readings (online comprehension). The methodology used was that of case studies in series, in each of which the participant was asked to answer, aloud, questions formulated while he/she was reading a story. The analysis of the data, notably of qualitative and procedural nature, makes evident the essentially argumentative nature of the predictive inferences produced.