That being said, all qualitative data analysis processes are going to fall into one of two categories: deductive or inductive. In this post, I’m going outline what each of those terms mean for qualitative analysis, and discuss some general deductive and inductive analytic strategies.

Deductive, or a priori, analysis generally means applying theory to the data to test the theory. It’s a kind of “top-down” approach to data analysis. In qualitative analysis, this often means applying predetermined codes to the data.

This fundamental decision, whether to use deductive or inductive coding for your qualitative research, shapes your entire analytical journey. Your choice dictates how you interpret your data, develop meaning, and ultimately tell the story of your research. This article walks through inductive and deductive coding.

Inductive reasoning facilitates the discovery of patterns or themes from specific observations, while deductive reasoning tests existing theories against new data. This combination enriches the research process, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of complex social phenomena.