Abduction 101: Reasoning Processes To Aid Discovery

Abstract

We propose that the process of abduction is a useful tool for how management scholars can better develop new explanatory hypotheses and theories. In doing so, we differentiate abduction from the more commonly studied methods of deduction and induction. We briefly explain the various research streams on abductive reasoning and propose a version that is focused more on the process of abductive reasoning and less on the outcomes. We argue that by using contrastive reasoning and by recognizing different triggers of abduction, this process can help guide researchers to the types of causal explanations that are interesting. We conclude with some examples of abduction in the history of management research and a discussion of features of the reasoning processes involved.

Publication Date

6-1-2017

Publication Title

Human Resource Management Review

Volume

27

Issue

2

Number of Pages

306-315

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2016.08.007

Socpus ID

84994169067 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84994169067

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