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The Four Theories in Research and Their Importance in The Modern World

The document discusses the four main theories in research: deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, grounded theory, and axiomatic theory. Deductive reasoning develops hypotheses based on existing theory and tests them, while inductive reasoning makes broad generalizations based on specific observations. Grounded theory aims to develop new theories based on qualitative data. Finally, axiomatic theory establishes basic assumptions that are considered self-evidently true, like mathematical axioms. Understanding these four theories is important for conducting research.

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330 views4 pages

The Four Theories in Research and Their Importance in The Modern World

The document discusses the four main theories in research: deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, grounded theory, and axiomatic theory. Deductive reasoning develops hypotheses based on existing theory and tests them, while inductive reasoning makes broad generalizations based on specific observations. Grounded theory aims to develop new theories based on qualitative data. Finally, axiomatic theory establishes basic assumptions that are considered self-evidently true, like mathematical axioms. Understanding these four theories is important for conducting research.

Uploaded by

kristine
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Four Theories in Research and Their Importance in The Modern World

Kristine Lagundino

Fine Arts Department, College of Architecture and Fine Arts

Technological University of the Philippines, Manila

ADV222 – Applied Research Techniques

Prof. Ernest Garcia

March 5, 2021
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“Theories are formulated to explain, predict, and understand phenomena and, in many

cases, to challenge and extend existing knowledge, within the limits of the critical bounding

assumptions.” (Sacred Heart University Library, n.d) The theoretical context is the framework

that holds or supports a research study's theory. A theory gives a method for interpreting data.

Assumptions support the statements. A variety of theories can be created from the assumptions.

They can be put to the test to see whether they accept or deny the theory. In this study, we will

define and break the four theories in research.

“Developing a hypothesis (or hypotheses) based on known theory, and then constructing

a testing strategy to test the hypothesis” (Wilson J., 2010) is what a deductive approach is all

about. From the word deduction, it is having a general idea and testing theories one by one and

subtracting those that has a solution after another to reach its conclusion.

Examples for deductive reasoning are, “All men are mortal. Joe is a man. Therefore, Joe

is mortal. If the first two statements are true, then the conclusion must be true.” [1] “To get a

bachelor’s degree at Utah State University, a student must have 120 credits. Sally has more than

130 credits. Therefore, Sally has a bachelor’s degree.” [2]

Inductive reasoning is a method of reasoning in which the premises are viewed as

supplying some evidence, but not full assurance, of the truth of the conclusion. (Rainbolt, George

W.; Dwyer, Sandra L., 2014) The major difference between inductive and deductive reasoning is

that inductive reasoning tries to establish a concept, while deductive reasoning aims to validate

an accepted theory. Inductive reasoning progresses from specific observations to broad

generalizations, while deductive reasoning leads from specific observations to broad

generalizations.
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“For example, you note that the probability of becoming schizophrenic is greatly

increased if at least one parent is schizophrenic, and from that you conclude that schizophrenia

may be inherited. That is certainly a reasonable hypothesis given the data.” Or “the behavior of

the schizophrenic parent may cause the child to be schizophrenic, not the genes.” [3]

Grounded theory is a collection of systematic inductive methods for conducting

qualitative research with the aim of developing theories. The hypothesis is “grounded” in actual

evidence, which means the study and implementation of hypotheses occurs after you have

obtained the data. Glaser & Strauss coined the term in 1967 to legitimize qualitative analysis. Its

use is not limited to qualitative studies; it's a common approach that can be used in a variety of

fields.

Axiomatic, from the root word axiom, defines a statement or proposition which is

regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true. (Oxford Languages and Google,

n.d) In Mathematics, you need at least a few building blocks to start with, and these are

called Axioms. Mathematicians assume that axioms are true without being able to prove them.

However, this is not as problematic as it may seem, because axioms are either definitions or

clearly obvious, and there are only very few axioms. For example, an axiom could be

that a + b = b + a for any two numbers a and b. (Mathigon, n.d) The axioms and rules have to

be chosen carefully in order to avoid inconsistency.


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References

Sacred Heart University Library, (n.d) “Organizing Academic Research Papers: Theoretical

Framework” Retrieved from https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?

g=29803&p=185919#:~:text=Theories%20are%20formulated%20to%20explain,theory%20of

%20a%20research%20study.

Wilson, J. (2010) “Essentials of Business Research: A Guide to Doing Your Research Project”

SAGE Publications, p.7

[1] [2] [3] Basic Reading and Writing: Cerritos College, (n.d) “Text: Inductive and Deductive

Arguments” Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/waymaker-level1-

english/chapter/inductive-and-deductive-arguments/

Rainbolt, George W.; Dwyer, Sandra L. (2014). Critical Thinking: The Art of Argument.

Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-285-19719-7.

Oxford Languages and Google, (n.d) “Definition of Axiom” Retrieved from

https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/

Mathigon, (n.d) “Axioms and Proof” Retrieved from

https://mathigon.org/world/Axioms_and_Proof

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