Understanding Concepts in Estimating Sample Size in Hypothesis Testing Experiments

In undertaking any research study, we attempt to focus on answering some of the research issues for enhancing, updating and advancing existing knowledge. These research issues can be answered by using either inductive or deductive logic approaches. In inductive approach, researcher investigates observations and analyses different trends and occurrences and if certain trends are important then a hypothesis is framed and tested, and thereafter theory is built. For instance, in a survey study after collecting data, one may like to investigate the buying behaviour of the people in different socioeconomic groups. In such studies, nothing is fixed a priori. It is only after collecting the data and visualizing some trends that different hypotheses are formed and tested. If hypothesis testing confirms some kind of relationship, we may build a theory that the buying behaviour is affected by socioeconomic status. Consider a situation in which a large number of patients start visiting doctors in the last few weeks; the researcher may develop a theory that existing weather is not conducive for the inhabitants or there is some outbreak of disease(s) in the neighborhood. Similarly, if majority of the medal winners in sports are being produced by a particular sports university, one may develop a theory that the training program of the university is superior to all other similar universities. Studies based on inductive logics are common in social sciences. Thus, in inductive research, theories are built.