Hi Colleagues- What do you think about the following methodological issues:
1. Is it methodologically wrong to formulate quantitative research questionnaire based on inductive reasoning?
2. Is it mandatory to test hypothesis and/or theory in quantitative research? if no -what are the justifications? (please suggest an example of exemption)
Thanks in advance
To your first question, it is not right to look for quantitative data for inductive analysis. Inductive analysis is driven by reasoning based on the data emerging from observations and participants views. Inductive analysis is therefore based on qualitative data. Quantitative means you are either testing an hypothesis or a theory that you already know something about. My opinion.
To your first question, it is not right to look for quantitative data for inductive analysis. Inductive analysis is driven by reasoning based on the data emerging from observations and participants views. Inductive analysis is therefore based on qualitative data. Quantitative means you are either testing an hypothesis or a theory that you already know something about. My opinion.
Joseph Kipkorir Cheruiyot thanks for your thoughts. I agree with you. So, while writing a proposal can I write- the questionnaire was formulated based on deductive reasoning? Do you think any further clarification is required in support of this statement?
Thanks in advance
Hi there
1. I would stick with qualitative method for first question.
2. No, you dont have to test a hypothesis, you can opt for having research questions instead.
Also, you dont have to neccesarily 'test' a model or theory.... you can apply it descriptively or inferentially.
Sachin Suknunan Thank you very much for your helpful response. For Q.1 and 2, can you suggest me relevant literature? Again, for Q.1- can I write that the questionnaire was formulated based on deductive reasoning? Do you think any further clarification is required in support of the statement?
Thanks in advance
I personally think that it is hard to write research questions that do not imply hypotheses, unless those questions are so general that they do not have any implications for how to conduct the research itself. Specially, hypotheses are all about relationships between key concepts, so if the research questions don't address that issue, they are likely be very vague indeed.
As for quantitative research that does not rely on hypotheses, it is possible to do purely descriptive surveys in areas where there is very little prior research, so that any new data is an addition to knowledge.
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