Inductive research approach comes from inference that is extracted from a set of observations. While this is a bottom-up approach, deductive research approach is top-down approach where an existing theory is tested- then either validated or invalidated. They have different applications in different types of research purposes.
In this article, we will discover how each approach is applied and what their limitations are so you can employ the method that is best suited to your objective. A better understanding of these two types of studies will teach you to take the right logical direction. As Albert Einstein said,
“The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking”
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Inductive approach and example
This approach is usually chosen when there is no existing theory or literature about a certain topic so the researcher has to collect data and then formulate a theory based on logic. There are three steps involved in the application of this approach. Let’s understand this through an example.
- Observation: A street dog attacks a pedestrian
- Collecting data: 20 more dogs attack a pedestrian
- Bird’s eye view: All street dogs are dangerous for pedestrians
As you can see here, the inductive method first observes an occurrence and then based on some observational evidence, a conclusion or theory is made. After this, since the theory is weak, it can also be invalidated by further research. It is recommended that the dataset should be kept large so that the theory can be stronger. Inductive approach falls in the category of qualitative research. According to the Grounded Theory (inductive approach is based on the grounded theory) by Glaser and Strauss, the researcher must begin inductive research with a completely open mind without any preconceived notions about the subject.
Deductive approach and example
Deductive research is not started with a clean slate- the researcher must have a theory or statement in mind that they want to test. This statement is usually coming from inductive research. There are five steps involved in the application of this research. Let’s understand through the same example as the one mentioned in inductive research:
- State the theory: All street dogs are dangerous for pedestrians
- Create a narrowed-down hypothesis from the theory: Street dogs in a non-friendly neighbourhood are dangerous
- Data collection to test this hypothesis: Start collecting and counting reports of attacks by street dogs in that area
- Analysis of the data: See the numeric data. 7 out of the 10 dogs attacked the pedestrians in that neighbourhood
- Accepting or rejecting the hypothesis: Reject the hypothesis because not all the street dogs in the unfriendly neighbourhood are dangerous for the pedestrians
Deductive logic fails if there is a problem in the premise of the inductive theory which we are testing. If the premise is found to be false, the conclusion from the deductive research is also falsified.
How they complement each other
Even if these two approaches seem to be on polar ends regarding their mode of application, they can still be used in tandem for one research. Using a combination is recommended because sometimes, unprecedented questions arise during the course of the research process.
The first method is used when the researcher does not have a theory to begin working with so they use an inductive approach to come up with a statement. Then, this statement is further narrowed down and deductive research is applied to construct a better conclusion from the research project and there will be less bias in this work.
The second idea is to use both approaches in a parallel fashion. For a certain research goal, you can collect data from both interviews and surveys. This way, you have a qualitative approach and a quantitative approach. For the interviews, an inductive approach is much better because that way, you can observe trends and patterns. However, for the quantitative data collected through surveys, a deductive approach is used to test the hypothesis. Then these conclusions are evaluated to form a final verdict.
How to choose an approach
The purpose of your research is very important in deciding whether you want to use an inductive or deductive approach. The second thing that you should keep in mind is the kind of data collection method that you will be using and the already existing knowledge on that topic. If no knowledge exists, you can start with an inductive approach. For qualitative data, use inductive approach and quantitative, use deductive approach.
There are some other factors as well. For low data intensity, deductive approach is better than inductive approach. For exploratory, always use an inductive approach and for structural equation modelling, deductive is a much better approach.
Key takeaway
None of these approaches are foolproof and might get affected by confirmation bias or cognitive bias so the idea is to inform you about the limitations and applications of both the approaches so that you can learn to apply them as you proceed with your research. This will ensure a much more sound conclusion compared to haphazardly choosing one approach and sticking to it no matter what.
If you are stuck in your research and do not know where to steer from there, you can always get help from expert writers to meet the deadline.
