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Inductive or Deductive? Two Different Approaches

7 October, 2015 - 09:48

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  1. Describe the inductive approach to research, and provide examples of inductive research.
  2. Describe the deductive approach to research, and provide examples of deductive research.
  3. Describe the ways that inductive and deductive approaches may be complementary.

Theories structure and inform sociological research. So, too, does research structure and inform theory. The reciprocal relationship between theory and research often becomes evident to students new to these topics when they consider the relationships between theory and research in inductive and deductive approaches to research. In both cases, theory is crucial. But the relationship between theory and research differs for each approach. Inductive and deductive approaches to research are quite different, but they can also be complementary. Let’s start by looking at each one and how they differ from one another. Then we’ll move on to thinking about how they complement one another.