Reasoning- The Thought process It is about argumentation: Explain Interpret Defend Challenge Explore meaning  Two approaches: Deduction (Theory to Data) Induction (Data to Theory)

Deduction: The characteristics Development of theory based on a rigorous test Use highly structured methodology to facilitate replication Concept need to be operationalized: Able to be measured, quantitatively Example: Generalization: Need to select sample carefully & to be of sufficient size. ConceptOperational Definition Absence  A complete Day?  Half Day?  2 hours? Younger Employee  21 to 25?  < 30? Short period of employment  < 1 year?  < 2 years?

Basic steps: 1. Put forward the tentative idea 2. Review the literature, examine the logic of argument, then produce the hypothesis. 3. Test the hypothesis by collecting data. 4. See the result: a. Significant: Then the theory is supported b. Not significant: Then the theory is not supported

Deduction: Example Step 1. IdeaReasons for high employee absenteeism 2. LRBased on LR, you establish a theory / framework between (a) absence (b) age (c) Length of service: Hypothesis: (i)The more younger the employee, the more likely to absence (ii)The shorter the period of service, the more likely to absence 3. Test Collect data Test the hypothesis 4. Result Sig ? Yes = Have relationship between age & absence; length of service & absence No = No relationship between them.

Induction: The characteristics Should understand the link between variables with understanding of the way in which human interpreted their social word. “Developing the understanding of the link between variables” Treat workers as human: Attendance behavior is a consequences of how they perceive their work Does have alternative explanation of what is going on. Concern with context: Thus small sample size is appropriate. Researchers are more likely to work with qualitative data

Induction : Example Step 1. IdeaReasons for high employee absenteeism 2. Understand the nature Interview employees & supervisors on their work experience To get the feel of what was going on To better understand the problem 3. Analyze To make sense of the interview data 4. ResultFormulation of a theory / conceptual framework Theory would follow data.  There is a relationship between length of service and absence

Abduction Combination of Deduction & Induction Example: Observe the Fact, explore the phenomenon, identify theme Building up a theory Collect new data & test the theory Study the result, revise as necessary

Deduction, Induction or Abduction? The answer is “IT DEPENDS”. Topic that rich in literature & you can define a theoretical framework:  Deductive New topic, little existing literature :  Inductive Topic which is rich information in one context but less in your context of study:  Abduction, allow you modify existing theory.