Abductive reasoning in logistics research

Emerald - Tập 35 Số 2 - Trang 132-144 - 2005
GyöngyiKovács1, Karen M.Spens1
1Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration, Helsinki, Finland

Tóm tắt

PurposeTo construct a framework for exploring and discussing the use of different research approaches – deductive, inductive and abductive – in logistics.Design/methodology/approachA review of research articles in three major logistics journals (International Journal of Logistics Management, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management and Journal of Business Logistics) from 1998 to 2002.FindingsRecognizes the dominance of deductive research in logistics, and the need for more inductive and, in particular, abductive research for theory development. Discusses the use of the abductive research approach in logistics.Research limitations/implicationsKeywords searches led to a small sample size; more thorough content analysis is needed to apply the findings from the constructed framework.Practical implicationsUseful source of information on the three different research approaches, their possibilities and implications for research.Originality/valueThe abductive research approach has not yet been discussed in logistics.

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Emerald

Tập 35 Số 2

132-144

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