In the inductive approach, theory is generated out of

In the inductive approach, theory is the outcome generated out of the research that has been done.

Data and findings are gathered first, and general theory is built up from them.

Simple observation alone is a starting point, but theory emerges from the completed research, not raw looking.

Field notes are records collected during research, not the finished theory itself.

Another theory is the source in the deductive route, where hypotheses are drawn from existing theory.

Grounded theory is a well-known inductive strategy in qualitative research.