The research approach is the plan that consists of all the steps of broad assumptions referring to suitable methods of collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Mainly, there are three types of research approaches, namely, deductive approach, inductive approach, and abductive approach. All these different types of approaches differ from each other based on the time of formulation of the hypothesis. Deductive starts with a hypothesis, while inductive research ends on a hypothesis. In contrast to both of these, abductive research starts with some surprising facts and revolves around these facts throughout the process. This article is all about discussing some vital information about abductive research, its example, and top strategies to follow while conducting it:
Abductive Research- A Brief Introduction
Abductive research is a method of research that is used to address all the weaknesses associated with inductive as well as deductive approaches to research. Broadly, the deductive approach helps researchers to first find data to support an argument, while in the inductive approach, arguments are established first to explain the trends in data. However, the abductive approach to solving a scientific problem helps researchers to begin with an incomplete set of observations to get the likeliest possible explanation of it. It is the best method to resolve daily life problems as its initiates with the best but incomplete set of information at hand.
Example Of Abductive Research:
The medical diagnosis and the method of making a decision in courts are two everyday examples of using the abductive approach. In medical diagnosis, doctors start treatment by only getting information about the symptoms that appear in the patients. Furthermore, based on the incomplete set of information ‘symptoms’ doctors detect the disease and suggest treatment for its recovery. In the second example, at the start of a hearing of a court, judges do not have any idea about the culprit but based on even weak evidence, they decide who is at fault. In both of these examples, the investigation begins on some surprise ‘disease’ or ‘case’ and proceed on the information provided or evaluation to draw inferences.
As far as abductive research in a dissertation is concerned, it is ideal for studies that aim to make predictions about a phenomenon. For example, suppose you are writing a dissertation to suggest strategies to decrease the ozone depletion rate by controlling CFCs. Here you can start the investigation from an incomplete set of observations about the properties of CFSs, but in conclusion, you can predict the future of ozone. All in all, abductive research must start from a set of observations. To design good research based on an abductive approach, you can also seek PhD dissertation help.
Top Strategies To Conduct Abductive Research In A Dissertation:
The following are five of the most effective strategies for conducting abductive research in a dissertation:
Deconstructing the Problem
To use the abductive approach in research, you must start with a problem or observation. After selecting an observation that either surprises or puzzles you, you must deconstruct the problem. To deconstruct a problem, you must break it into smaller, but manageable parts. It helps you solve your overall dissertation problem by solving all smaller problems one after the other.
Identifying the Core Problem
There may be many factors affecting a single problem under observation. Thus, this step is all about finding the problem having the most drastic effect on the overall situation. To find the core problem, you must have to use measurement tools to confirm whether a problem really exists.
Defining Key Questions and Concepts
Once you identify the key problem, the process of finding key concepts and formulating questions becomes easy. You can use your core problem to formulate the research questions.
Developing a Working Hypothesis
A working hypothesis is a tentative statement that helps you predict how a core problem links with the surprising or puzzling situation that you want to investigate using the abductive method of research.
Implementing an Iterative Research Process
After developing a tentative or working hypothesis, the next step must be to use an iterative research process, which is a method of systematically repeating some sequence of tasks to provide a deep understanding of the research data. The iterative research process brings a standard of reliability to the research.
Final Thought:
In summary, the adductive research approach is applied to research if inductive or deductive both approaches fail to give valuable insights. This approach even works when you have an incomplete set of information or if you only have an observation to start the research process. In the end, we must say it is the best approach as it allows creativity and gives intuition to inform theoretical evaluation to understand a specific phenomenon.
