RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Approach Guide: Deductive, Inductive & Abductive Approaches.
Understand how research approaches connect theory, evidence and explanation, and learn how deductive, inductive and abductive approaches can be used in academic research.
RESEARCH DESIGN
What is a research approach?
A research approach describes the way a researcher moves between ideas, theory, evidence and explanation when investigating a research problem. It helps establish how knowledge will be developed or tested during a study.
The choice of research approach should be consistent with the research problem, questions, objectives and wider methodological design. A researcher may begin with an existing theoretical explanation and test it against evidence, or begin with empirical observations and develop concepts or explanations from them.
THEORY & EVIDENCE
How research approaches connect theory and data
Research approaches can be understood partly by examining the direction in which researchers move between theoretical ideas and empirical evidence.
THEORY → DATA
Deduction
Existing theory or propositions are used to develop expectations that can then be examined using empirical evidence.
DATA → THEORY
Induction
Researchers examine observations or evidence to identify patterns and develop concepts or theoretical explanations.
THEORY ↔ DATA
Abduction
Researchers move between existing explanations and empirical observations to develop the most plausible explanation for what they observe.
EXPLORE
Major Research Approaches
Explore the three major approaches commonly discussed when designing and explaining academic research.
Deductive Approach
Understand how researchers begin with existing theory or propositions and use empirical evidence to test hypotheses or expectations.
Detailed guide coming soon →
Inductive Approach
Explore how researchers begin with observations or evidence and develop patterns, concepts or theoretical explanations from the data.
Detailed guide coming soon →
Abductive Approach
Learn how researchers move between existing explanations and empirical observations to develop the most plausible interpretation of a research problem.
Detailed guide coming soon →
COMPARING APPROACHES
Deductive and inductive research
Deductive and inductive approaches represent different ways of connecting theory and evidence. Deductive research commonly begins with an existing theoretical position and examines whether empirical evidence is consistent with propositions derived from it. Inductive research instead begins with observations and uses patterns in the evidence to develop concepts or explanations.
The distinction should not be treated as a simple choice between numbers and words. Quantitative and qualitative methods can be used within broader research designs that involve different approaches to theory and evidence.
METHODOLOGICAL DECISION
How do you choose a research approach?
The appropriate research approach depends on the nature of the research problem, the questions being investigated and the knowledge the study aims to develop. Researchers should consider whether the study is primarily testing existing theoretical expectations, developing explanations from empirical evidence or moving between theory and evidence to investigate an uncertain or complex problem.
The selected approach should also fit logically with the research philosophy, research design, data collection methods and analysis techniques used in the study.
CONNECTING THE RESEARCH DESIGN
From research philosophy to research methods
A research approach does not operate independently. A strong research design connects the philosophical assumptions of the study with the way theory is approached, the research design, methods of data collection and techniques used to analyse the evidence.
RELATED GUIDE
Research Philosophy Guide
Explore ontology, epistemology, positivism, interpretivism, pragmatism and critical realism and understand how philosophical assumptions influence research design.
Research Philosophy Guide →RELATED HUB
Research Methodology Guide
Return to the wider methodology hub covering research philosophy, approaches, qualitative and quantitative methods, data collection and analysis.
Research Methodology Guide →Need help with your research?
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