Research Approach
Research Approach
Research approach can be divided into three types:
1. Deductive research approach
2. Inductive research approach
3. Abductive research approach
Research Approach
The relevance of hypotheses to the study is the main distinctive
point between deductive and inductive approaches.
Deductive approach tests the validity of assumptions (or
theories/hypotheses) in hand, whereas inductive approach
contributes to the emergence of new theories and generalizations.
Abductive research, on the other hand, starts with ‘surprising facts’
or ‘puzzles’ and the research process is devoted their explanation.
Deduction Induction Abduction
Logic In a deductive In an inductive In an abductive
inference, inference, inference, known
when the premises known premises are premises are used to
are used generate testable
true, the conclusion to generate untested conclusions
must also be true conclusions
Generalizability Generalising from the Generalising from the Generalising from the
general to the specific to the interactions between
specific general the specific and the
general
Deduction Induction Abduction
Use of data Data collection is Data collection is Data collection is
used to evaluate used to used to explore a
propositions or explore a phenomenon, identify
hypotheses related to phenomenon, themes and patterns,
an existing theory identify themes and locate these in a
patterns and create a conceptual
conceptual framework
framework and test this through
subsequent data
collection and so
forth
Theory Theory falsification or Theory generation Theory generation or
verification and building modification;
incorporating existing
theory where
appropriate, to build
new theory or modify
existing theory
Difference
Discussion of research approach is a vital part of any scientific study
regardless of the research area. Within the methodology chapter of
your dissertation to you need to explain the main differences between
inductive, deductive and abductive approaches.
Also, you need to specify the approach you have adopted for your
research by breaking down your arguments into several points.
Eg: Effects of labour migration within the EU on the formation of
multicultural teams in UK organizations
Deductive Research Approach
If you have formulated a set of hypotheses for your dissertation that need to be
confirmed or rejected during the research process you would be following a
deductive approach.
In deductive approach, the effects of labour migration within the EU are
assessed by developing hypotheses that are tested during the research process.
The following hypotheses can be developed in order to assess the effects of
labour migration within the EU on the formation of multicultural teams in UK
organizations using a deductive approach:
Hypothesis: Labour migration within the EU contributes to the formation of
multicultural teams in UK
Inductive Research Approach
Alternatively, inductive approach does not involve formulation of hypotheses. It starts with research
questions and aims and objectives that need to be achieved during the research process.
Referring to the example above, the effects of labour migration within the EU on the formation of
multicultural teams in UK organizations can be accessed through finding answers to the following
research questions:
Research question: How does labour migration within the EU effect the formation of multicultural
teams in UK?
Abductive Research Approach
In abductive approach, the research process is devoted to explanation of
‘incomplete observations’, ‘surprising facts’ or ‘puzzles’ specified at the beginning of
the study. Referring to the research topic of the effects of labour migration on the
formation of multicultural teams in the UK discussed above, you may observe that
labour migration within the EU was actually decreasing the extent of cross-cultural
differences within teams in the UK.
Then, your study can be devoted to the explanation of this phenomenon by using
qualitative and/or quantitative methods of data collection and data analysis in an
integrated manner.
