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Importance of Inductive and Deductive Approaches in Geographical

Researches

Preprint · January 2018

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.33026.45760

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Importance of Inductive and Deductive Approaches in
Geographical Researches
Md Kaikubad Ali
Research Scholar, Dept. of Geography, Aligarh Muslim University
Email: [email protected]

Introduction:
The concept of research is pertained to the scholastic process of adding more information (not
necessarily different but with some new findings) to the existing knowledge. Geographers
around the world are adding new dimensions to the field of geographic knowledge.
Researches in the field of geography, along with other science and social science subjects, are
accomplished through certain approaches. As research encompasses with the philosophy,
inductive and deductive reasoning are the two kinds of logic, which are used in the field of
research to develop the hypothesis, so as to arrive at a conclusion, on the basis of
information, which is believed to be true. Both inductive and deductive approaches are
widely used in researches in every branches of knowledge. Here the discussion is focused on
the importance of the inductive and deductive approaches in geographical researches.

Deductive Approach:
Deductive approach requires the researcher to work from general to specific. The study of the
specific phenomenon is done in relation to the general established laws and theories. In this
approach the researcher or group of researchers start the work with deciding theory for
fulfilling the research objectives. Then the theory is narrowed down to more specific
hypothesis for testing. To test the hypothesis observation is made which is done after
collecting and analyzing data and relevant information. Testing the hypothesis helps the
researcher to draw conclusion and make confirmation whether to accept or to reject the
hypothesis. This justifies the existing theory and its validity. As this approach begins with
broad and general idea and brings the researcher to narrow and more specific conclusion, this
approach is also known as ‘top-down’ approach.
 Fig: Deductive Approach in Research

For example, if a researcher seeks to enquire about the role of education in poverty in a
region, he would first look for the existing theories related to poverty. Then he will narrow
down his research interest to hypothesis as low level of education results in high level of
poverty. Then the researcher makes field observation and collects data for analysis. After
analyzing the information the researcher tests the hypothesis, whether it is true or false to the
ground.

The main characteristics of deductive approach are as follows:

1. Deductive approach is aimed at testing the existing theories.
2. This is a continuous process from which the theories based on social, cultural changes
need to be re-examined.
3. This method is simple but much more confined to predetermined theory.
4. This approach is believed to be scientific and well managed.
5. Conclusion follows logically from the available facts and can be generalized.

Inductive Approach:
Inductive approach is just opposite of the deductive one. When particular examples are used
to reach a general conclusion about something the approach is considered to be inductive. In
this approach empirical observation plays a vital role and the study begins with the scientific
observation of the specific phenomenon. The researcher or group of researchers collects
individual scattered facts, condition or process through filed study. Then similarities and
patterns are analyzed among the individual phenomenon to prove the tentative hypothesis
scientifically in order or sequence. The phenomena are tested regarding to their reality and
factualness based on the direct observed and experienced events. This leads the researcher to
general conclusion and the theory is developed. This approach is called ‘bottom-up approach’
as the research is done from specific to general information.

Fig: Inductive Approach in Research

For example, in inductive approach the researcher first would observe the study area. He will
collect information related to poverty and education in the field survey. He will assemble the
individual information to find out the pattern of similarities. Analyzing the data, a tentative
hypothesis would try to find how level of education is related to the level of poverty. Suppose
the study finds most of the poor populations have low education, then this will lead to the
conclusion making general theory that low level of education results high level of poverty.

The main characteristics of inductive approach are as follows:

1. Inductive approach is concerned with the generation of new theory emerging from the
data.
2. This approach is more scientific based on empirical observation.
3. This approach is meant to explore the nature and helps to build theory based on
ground reality.
4. The process form particular to general prioritizes the study of events as these are
happened and possible to happen in general/public life.
5. This approach clearly shows the cause effect relationship.

Comparison between Inductive and Deductive Approach:

1. Inductive approach moves from specific to general (top-down). Unlike, deductive
approach moves from general to particular (bottom-up).
2. Inductive approach is concerned with the generation of new theory emerging from the
data, while deductive approach is aimed and testing theory.
3. Inductive approach will usually use research questions to narrow the scope of the
study, whilst deductive approach usually begins with a hypothesis.
4. The basis of inductive approach is behavior or pattern. Conversely, deductive
approach depends on facts and rules.
5. In inductive reasoning, the argument supporting the conclusion, may or may not be
strong. On the contrary, in deductive reasoning, the argument can be proved valid or
invalid.
Importance of Inductive and Deductive Approaches in Geographical
Researches:

Likewise researches in other social sciences, geographical research also walk with inductive
and deductive approaches of reasoning. In geographical research earlier studies were
accompanied with deductive method, where conclusions were drawn out from the premises.
There were no serious attempts, by any geographer, made in past to test the validity of the
existing premises. This was because of the reliability of the geographers on metaphysical
world views (teleological approaches. It was believed that the changes in the phenomena
were caused by law of nature. However there were geographers who put emphasis on
empirical observation and studied geography inductively.

Modern geographical time period starts with two great German geographers viz. Alexander
von Humboldt and Carl Ritter. Both were contemporary to each other but each had different
approach to explore the geography. Humboldt was a believer of inductive approach and
considered scientific observation as the sole tool for exploring the nature. He made several
expeditions and field works to many places of South America, North America, Europe and
Asia and came with many theories in the field of climatology, geomorphology, zoology,
botany, geology etc. His book Kosmos is a comprehensive account of his journeys and
expeditions. On the contrary, Carl Ritter, through fieldworks and empirical observation, put
emphasis on deducing new conclusions from fundamentals assumptions or from already
established truths. Thus his method was followed by deductive approach.

In geographical studies, there has always been methodological problem of dualism and
dichotomy. Majority of the researches in the fields of geomorphology, climatology,
oceanography and earth sciences are done using inductive approach, while specialized
branches of geography rely on deductive methods. However both the approaches are used in
researches irrespective of their fields in geography. It depends on the nature and objectives of
the research.
While conducting research it is essential to determine whether to use and inductive or
deductive approach. For this the researcher, geographer in this case, has to consider the
purpose of the study first, and secondly the methods which are best suited for either testing
hypothesis or to find answer of specific research questions.
 References:
Hussain, M., (2009) Evolution of Geographical Thought, Rawat Publication, Jaipur India
Kothari, C.R., (2004), Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, New Age
International Publishers, New Delhi
Soiferman, L.K., (2010), Compare and Contrast Inductive and Deductive Research
Approaches, University of Manitoba.
Trochim, M.K.W, (2006), Deduction & Induction
https://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/dedind.php accessed on 08/15/2017

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