Inductive vs Deductive Approach

Well begun is the half done.

(Aristotle)

Two basic categories

of human reasoning

Deduction: reasoning from general premises, which are

known or presumed to be known, to more specific, certain
conclusions.
Induction: reasoning from specific cases to more
general, but uncertain, conclusions.

Both deductive and inductive arguments occur frequently

and naturallyboth forms of reasoning can be equally
compelling and persuasive, and neither form is preferred
over the other (Hollihan & Baske, 1994).

Deduction Vs. Induction

Deduction:

Induction

commonly associated
with formal logic.
involves reasoning
from known premises,
or premises presumed
to be true, to a certain
conclusion.

the conclusions
reached are certain,
predictable,
inescapable.

commonly known as
informal logic, or
everyday argument
involves drawing
uncertain inferences,
based on probabalistic
reasoning.
the conclusions
reached are probable,
reasonable, possible,
believable.

Sample Deductive and Inductive Arguments

Example of
Deduction
major premise: All
tortoises are
vegetarians
minor premise:
Bessie is a tortoise
conclusion:
Therefore, Bessie
is a vegetarian

Example of
Induction

Boss to employee:
Biff has a tattoo of an
anchor on his arm. He
probably served in the
Navy.

sample Venn diagram

of a deductive argument

vegetarian animals

tortoises
Thus, Bessie
must be a
vegetarian

All tortoises
fall in the
circle of
animals that
are
vegetarians

Bessie falls into the circle

of animals that are
tortoises

Bessie

Other types of
deductive arguments
Suppose every place in
the world that people
live is represented by
the blue space inside
the rectangle. Suppose
the long pink oval
represents all the
wooden houses in the
world. And, suppose
the green circle
represents Canada.
The most logical
conclusion one can
draw from the figure is:

A. all wooden houses

are found in Canada
B. Everyone lives in a
wooden house
C. Some Canadians live
in wooden houses
D. No one lives in
Canada

Deduction Versus Induction

---continued

Deductive
reasoning is either
valid or invalid.

If the reasoning
employed in an
argument is valid and
the arguments
premises are true,
then the argument is
said to be sound.
valid reasoning +
true premises =
sound argument

Inductive reasoning
enjoys a wide range of
probability; it can be
possible, reasonable,
credible, etc.
the inferences drawn
may be placed on a
continuum ranging from
sound at one end to
fallacious at the other.

fallacious

sound

Deductive Reasoning

Law of Detachment
The law of detachment
(also known as affirming
the antecedent) is the
first form of deductive
reasoning.
PQ (conditional
statement)
P (hypothesis stated)
Q (conclusion deduced)

Law of Syllogism
The law of syllogism takes
two conditional statements
and forms a conclusion by
combining the hypothesis
of one statement with the
conclusion of another

PQ
QR
Therefore, PR.
The following is an example:

If Larry is sick, then he will be

absent from school.

If Larry is absent, then he will miss

his classwork.

If Larry is sick, then he will miss

his classwork.

Validity of Deductive Argument

Conclusion must be true if the

premises are true. An argument
can be valid even though the
premises are false.
An argument is sound if it is
valid and the premises are true.
The following is an example of
an argument that is valid, but

not sound:
Everyone who eats steak is a
quarterback.

John eats steak.

Therefore, John is a
quarterback.

The example's first premise

is false there are people
who eat steak and are not
quarterbacks but the
conclusion must be true, so
long as the premises are
true. Therefore the argument
is valid, but not sound.

All bats are

mammals.
All mammals are
warm-blooded.
So, all bats are
warm-blooded.

Inductive Reasoning
Inductive
reasoning, also
known as
induction, is a kind
of reasoning that
constructs or
evaluates general
proposition that
are derived from
specific examples.

Examples

All life forms that we know of

depend on liquid water to
exist.
All life depends on liquid
water to exist.
All of the swans we have
seen are white.
Therefore, all swans are
white.
Ahsan is a Research Scholar
Most law Research Scholars
own laptops.
So, probably Ahsan owns a
laptop.

Quantitative Research Process

1. Theory
2. Hypothesis
3. Research Design
4. Devise measures of concepts
5. Select research site(s)
6. Select research subjects /
Respondents

7. Administer research
instruments / collect data
8. Process data
9. Analysis and interpretations
10. Findings / Conclusions
11. Write up findings
/conclusions

Important Topics
Data Collection
Methods
Interviews
Types of Interviews
Questionnaire, types

Theory
Theory is a
standardized
principle on
which basis we
can explain the
relationship
between two or
more concepts
or variables

PURPOSE OF THEORY

Prediction and
understanding are the
two purpose of theory.

LEVELS OF THEORY
1. Abstract level
At the abstract level.
Concepts and
propositions are the
elements of theory
2. Empirical level
At the empirical level
theory is concerned with
variables and testable
hypothesis, the empirical
counterparts of concepts
and propositions.

Theory at Empirical & Abstract Level

Higher Temperature reduces the
Productivity

More Satisfaction increases the

Motivation level
Theory

Satisfaction & Motivation

hard work & thirst
Proposition
Honesty and success

Motivation,
thirst, honesty,
satisfaction

Hypothesi
s

concept

variable

Abstract
level

Empirical
level

Temperature &
Productivity
Height & Weight,
Distance & Speed
Height, Weight,
Temperature,
Distance

Theory Development
Theory
All rosebushes have thorns

Deduction

Predicted Observation

Induction

Actual Observation

I notice that the five rosebushes

If I check my neighbors rose bushes,
in my backyard all have thorns
I should find that they all have thorns

Induction and Deduction Process

1. Theory

3. Data Collection

4. Findings

5. Hypothesis confirmed or
rejected

6. Revision of theory

1. General Research Questions

Induction

Deductio
n

2. Hypothesis

2. Data Collection

3. Findings

4. Generation of Theory

Research Paradigms
Positivism
Determination
Reductionism
Empirical
observation and
measurement
Theory
verification

Interpretivism

Pragmatism

Understanding
Multiple
participant
meanings
Social and
historical
construction
Theory generation

Consequences
of actions
Problem
centered
Real-world
practice
oriented

Sr.
#
1

Philosophical Assumptions

Philosophical
Assumption
Ontology: -

Positivism

Interpretivism

Pragmatism

What is the nature of

reality?

Singular reality existing

apart from researchers
perception and cultural
biases. (Objectivism)
e.g. researchers reject or
fail to reject hypothesis.

Multiple realities
shaped by
researchers prior
understanding
(constructionism).
e.g. researchers
provides quotes to
illustrate different
perspectives.

Singular and multiple

realities.
e.g. researchers test
hypothesis and provide
multiple perspectives.

Epistemology: What is the relationship

between the researcher
and that being
researched?
What is regarded as
acceptable knowledge
and how we know it?

Distance and impartiality

(e.g. researchers
objectively collect data on
instruments.)
Acceptable knowledge is
gained through sense and
is objectively real.
(Objective)

Closeness (e.g.
researchers visit
participants at their
sites to collect data)
It is cased on the
perceptions of the
individuals about the
world. (Subjective)

Practicality (e.g.
researchers collect
data by what work to
address research
question).
Objective + Subjective

Axiology: What is the role of

values?

Unbiased (e.g. researchers

use checks to eliminate
bias)

Biased (e.g.
researchers actively
talk about their biases
and interpretations)

Multiple stances. (e.g.

researchers include
both biased and
unbiased perspectives)

Rhetoric: What is the language of

research?

Formal style (e.g.

researchers use agrees on
definitions of variables)

Informal style. (e.g.

researchers write in s
literary, informal style)

Formal or informal
(e.g. researchers may
employ both formal
and informal styles of
writing).

Methodology: What is the process of

research?

Deductive (e.g. researchers

that an a priori theory)

Inductive (e.g.
researchers start with
participants views and
build up to patterns,
theories and
generalizations)

Combining (e.g.
researchers collect
both Quantitative an
Qualitative data and
mix them )

Strategies of Inquiry

Surveys, experiments and

field work

Grounded theory,
ethnography, case
study and narratives

Sequential, concurrent
and transformative.

Methods

Close ended questions,

predetermined approaches
numerical data, statistical
analysis (Quantitative)

Open ended
questions, emerging
approaches, and text
and image analysis.
(Qualitative)

Both open and close

ended questions; both
emerging and
predetermined
approaches; both
quantitative and
qualitative data and
analysis.