After the collection of research data, how you analyse it depends pretty much on three things. One is the methodology using which you have collected the data, the second is your personal analytic preferences, and the third is the type of data you have. That being said, all the qualitative data analysis processes fall into two categories: Inductive approach or deductive approach. In today’s post, I am going to talk about the inductive analysis approach for qualitative data. There will be a description of this approach, its importance, and, more importantly, its advantages in the case of qualitative research. So, let’s get started with today’s topic with the following question.
What is the inductive approach to data analysis?
The inductive approach involves the search for patterns and themes in the gathered data and drawing conclusions based on those. It is a very open-ended analysis technique in which the researcher explores the shreds of evidence and gives his conclusion about the research study. Most researchers employ this technique to find the themes present in the data collected.
For example, you have conducted an ethnographic study on the habits of Monkeys using a qualitative research method. Now, by using the inductive approach, you can analyse the habits of monkeys better because it allows you to develop patterns and themes. Hence, it is all about this important approach to data analysis.
What makes the inductive approach important in qualitative research?
Inductive reasoning or approach is a more emergent strategy where the researcher reads through the data, codes it, and then locates the themes and patterns present in it. In qualitative research, this method has huge importance. But what makes this method of analysing qualitative data so important? A brief description of the points in support of this is as follows:
1. Do not require any theory
To perform an inductive approach to data analysis, you do not need to have control or knowledge of the theories or hypotheses at the start. This means that this method is not strict at all. In addition to this, you can change the path of your research after it has begun because this method does not ask you to follow a theory or hypothesis. All you need to do is collect the responses, code them, and analyse them for the recognition of themes and patterns.
2. Condense raw data into meaningful conclusions
The next thing that makes this approach so important is its ability to take the raw data and transform it into a meaningful one. When you collect data from your desired population, it is in raw form. It is the different analysis techniques that turn it into meaning, and the inductive approach is one of them. It takes the data, analyses it against the research questions, and draws valuable conclusions from it. Hence, this ability of this method makes it more important.
3. Fuels further exploration
As you know, this approach is about proving an observation right or wrong. This is what makes it more important in qualitative research. It fuels further exploration of the topic when the researcher either declares the observation right or wrong. In the process, the researcher explores the given context, its realm, and different possible scenarios associated with this. This kind of exploration further enables the researcher to see how accurate and inaccurate the results are. Therefore, further research prospects make inductive reasoning more important.
What are the advantages of the inductive approach?
After reading the information above, you now have a good idea of this method of data analysis and its importance. However, the title of the article asks to highlight its advantages in data analysis too. Therefore, a brief description of its primary advantages is as follows:
1. Informed decision making
Informed decision-making is making a decision when you have all the supporting elements ready in front of you. You know the relationship between different things and how they are going to affect the end results. The themes and patterns identified in the data as a result of an inductive approach to data analysis make it easy for the researchers to make decisions about an issue. Moreover, these patterns and themes also help policymakers to make policies that are in the interest of the general public.
2. Develop the habit of critical thinking
As far as the personal growth of researchers is concerned, this method also helps researchers a lot in this. When the researcher from a PhD dissertation help analyse the large texts and identify the themes present in them, they actually develop the habit of critical thinking themselves. Conducting an inductive analysis of things is not an easy thing. It requires you to have a keen observation. So, along with enhancing your critical thinking power, it also boosts your observation power.
3. A very flexible method
Another advantage of using the inductive approach in the data analysis process is that it is very flexible. It does not follow a theory or hypothesis to carry out the analysis. Unlike the deductive approach, it does not involve any kind of application of a theoretical or conceptual framework. This method of data analysis is so flexible that you can change the course of your analysis at any time. Hence, flexibility is 3rd major advantage of using an inductive approach.
4. Supports the generation of new theories
In inductive reasoning, after analysis of the patterns, you either approve or disapprove of the idea being studied. Whether you approve it or disapprove of it, the advantage of this method is that it supports the generation of new theories. Let’s suppose you conclude that the idea is wrong. What will happen next? Yes, further research will be carried out, and the true relationship between the variables will be established. Ultimately, a new theory will be generated in either case.
Conclusion
As I see it, the inductive approach to qualitative data analysis is an important and advantageous one. It allows you to better recognise themes and patterns in your data and better interpret the research results. Hence, place the above-mentioned advantages into mind and choose inductive reasoning for your next qualitative research study.