Hoofdstuk 1 The Inductive and Deductive research process
§ What is deductive and inductive reasoning?
§ What is the inductive and deductive research process?
What is inductive and deductive reasoning?
A general theory is A theory is
tested to solve or generated based on
explain a specific specific observations
problem
Starts with a general
theory that is later
tested in practice Based on specific
Based on theory observations
Examples: Examples:
- All Tilburg University students must be - The first Tilburg University student is 24
registered on Canvas years old
- You are a Tilburg University student - The second Tilburg University student is
- Conclusion: You will have to be registred 24 years old
on Canvas - The third Tilburg University student is 24
years old
- Conclusion: All Tilburg University
students are 24 years old
However, you know this is not
true, but given that you did not observe
Scientific Research any deviations, the conclusion stays.
- All Tilburg University students must be
More common in Marketing Scientific Research
- All Tilburg University students must be - All Tilburg University students must be
Academic Competences | Tilburg University | Midterm | 2021
, The seven-step deductive research The seven-step inductive research
process process
Process 1. Define the business problem 1. Define the business problem
2. Formulate the problem 2. Formulate the problem
statement statement
3. Develop a theoretical framework 3. Provide a conceptual
4. Choose a research design background
5. Collect data 4. Choose a research design
6. Analyze data 5. Collect data
7. Write-up 6. Analyze data
7. Develop theory
Known as o Quantitative research process o Qualitative research process
o Top-down method o Bottom-up type of working
Other Deductive research is theoretically drive. Inductive research is more exploratory
First use a theory to develop hypotheses, from nature
afterwards you will test these hypothesis
using data
Helps to generate incremental Leads to large advantage in knowledge
contribution or covers new theory
Major differences Deductive research Inductive research
Outcomes The outcome is a confirmation or a The outcome is a newly developed
disconfirmation of an existing theory theory
The purpose of the Uses literature to: Uses literature to:
literature review 1. Identify variables and to define 1. Find evidence for the relevance
key terms of the study
2. Helps find arguments for the 2. Gain detailed information about
relationships between variables the problem that is addressed
3. Helps to develop hypothesis in the study
4. By reading the literature one can
also prevent doing a research The literature review is usually very
that already has been done shot and not guided through research
5. Helps to contextualize the study questions to the same extent as
in the wider academic debate, deductive research
which contributes to the
relevance of the study
Data collection Often closed questions surveys, Tends to use interviews, observations,
method experiments, or archival research or document analysis. This data consists
out of large amounts of text and is very
time consuming to collect
Analyzing the data Data analysis is most often done with the Data analysis is much less guided. The
use of statistical analysis. That helps to researcher has to find common themes
draw conclusions about the validity of an in a large amount of data by going
existing theory, by tasting its application through some kind of coding process
on a given data set
Academic Competences | Tilburg University | Midterm | 2021
, Hoofdstuk 2 Defining a business problem
§ When does a business problem occur?
§ What makes a good business problem?
§ Example
The seven-step deductive research process and inductive research process start with:
1. Define the business problem
When does a business problem occur?
à When there is a gap between the actual state of a company and the desired state of the
company
Two types of business problems:
1. Desired state à The actual situation is not seriously wrong, but can be improved
2. Actual state à The actual situation is seriously wrong and needs to be solved a.s.a.p.
Academic Competences | Tilburg University | Midterm | 2021
§ What is deductive and inductive reasoning?
§ What is the inductive and deductive research process?
What is inductive and deductive reasoning?
A general theory is A theory is
tested to solve or generated based on
explain a specific specific observations
problem
Starts with a general
theory that is later
tested in practice Based on specific
Based on theory observations
Examples: Examples:
- All Tilburg University students must be - The first Tilburg University student is 24
registered on Canvas years old
- You are a Tilburg University student - The second Tilburg University student is
- Conclusion: You will have to be registred 24 years old
on Canvas - The third Tilburg University student is 24
years old
- Conclusion: All Tilburg University
students are 24 years old
However, you know this is not
true, but given that you did not observe
Scientific Research any deviations, the conclusion stays.
- All Tilburg University students must be
More common in Marketing Scientific Research
- All Tilburg University students must be - All Tilburg University students must be
Academic Competences | Tilburg University | Midterm | 2021
, The seven-step deductive research The seven-step inductive research
process process
Process 1. Define the business problem 1. Define the business problem
2. Formulate the problem 2. Formulate the problem
statement statement
3. Develop a theoretical framework 3. Provide a conceptual
4. Choose a research design background
5. Collect data 4. Choose a research design
6. Analyze data 5. Collect data
7. Write-up 6. Analyze data
7. Develop theory
Known as o Quantitative research process o Qualitative research process
o Top-down method o Bottom-up type of working
Other Deductive research is theoretically drive. Inductive research is more exploratory
First use a theory to develop hypotheses, from nature
afterwards you will test these hypothesis
using data
Helps to generate incremental Leads to large advantage in knowledge
contribution or covers new theory
Major differences Deductive research Inductive research
Outcomes The outcome is a confirmation or a The outcome is a newly developed
disconfirmation of an existing theory theory
The purpose of the Uses literature to: Uses literature to:
literature review 1. Identify variables and to define 1. Find evidence for the relevance
key terms of the study
2. Helps find arguments for the 2. Gain detailed information about
relationships between variables the problem that is addressed
3. Helps to develop hypothesis in the study
4. By reading the literature one can
also prevent doing a research The literature review is usually very
that already has been done shot and not guided through research
5. Helps to contextualize the study questions to the same extent as
in the wider academic debate, deductive research
which contributes to the
relevance of the study
Data collection Often closed questions surveys, Tends to use interviews, observations,
method experiments, or archival research or document analysis. This data consists
out of large amounts of text and is very
time consuming to collect
Analyzing the data Data analysis is most often done with the Data analysis is much less guided. The
use of statistical analysis. That helps to researcher has to find common themes
draw conclusions about the validity of an in a large amount of data by going
existing theory, by tasting its application through some kind of coding process
on a given data set
Academic Competences | Tilburg University | Midterm | 2021
, Hoofdstuk 2 Defining a business problem
§ When does a business problem occur?
§ What makes a good business problem?
§ Example
The seven-step deductive research process and inductive research process start with:
1. Define the business problem
When does a business problem occur?
à When there is a gap between the actual state of a company and the desired state of the
company
Two types of business problems:
1. Desired state à The actual situation is not seriously wrong, but can be improved
2. Actual state à The actual situation is seriously wrong and needs to be solved a.s.a.p.
Academic Competences | Tilburg University | Midterm | 2021
