Deductive and Inductive Research

From reading through some information we have been provided with throughout our time during this course so far I have received a number of different booklets that contain a lot of information, which will be very valuable to read through and use for different blog posts so this is one of the first ones from a booklet.

There are two commonly known types of research, which are deductive and inductive. The deductive research is known as a top to bottom approach, where as the inductive is known as a bottom to top approach.

Within the deductive research approach there are four main a stages these include:

Theory – hypothesis – observation- confirmation or rejection

This method differs from inductive because it works from the general to the specific.

Within the inductive research approach there are also four main stages of the research:

Observation – pattern – tentative hypothesis – theory

This method differs from deductive because this research form works from specific observations to broader generalisations or theories.

There are many different reasons to use each of these research forms some examples can include epistemological, theoretical concerns or from the kinds of research question one in the exam is asking. By presenting these forms of research isn’t suggesting that only one will be used whilst researching into just one subject. They are both frequently used as both processes in a circular sort of way cause theories to lead to observations, which then in time lead to identification of new patterns, which lead to the development of new theories.