Physics

Sociology

Social science

Structural engineering

Biology

Operating system

Engineering

Paleontology

Artificial intelligence

Economics

Framing (construction)

Coherence (philosophical gambling strategy)

Context (archaeology)

Computer science

Management science

Quantum mechanics

Process (computing)

Exploratory research

Deductive reasoning

Quality & Quantity

While hypotheses frame explanatory studies and provide guidance for measurement and statistical tests, deductive, exploratory research does not have a framing device like the hypothesis. To this purpose, this article examines the landscape of deductive, exploratory research and offers the working hypothesis as a flexible, useful framework that can guide and bring coherence across the steps in the research process. The working hypothesis conceptual framework is introduced, placed in a philosophical context, defined, and applied to public administration and comparative public policy. Doing so, this article explains: the philosophical underpinning of exploratory, deductive research; how the working hypothesis informs the methodologies and evidence collection of deductive, explorative research; the nature of micro-conceptual frameworks for deductive exploratory research; and, how the working hypothesis informs data analysis when exploratory research is deductive.

The potential of working hypotheses for deductive exploratory research