Abduction, induction - confusion - Notes on the logic of interpretative social research [Abduktion, Induktion - konfusion: Bemerkungen zur logik der interpretativen sozialforschung]

When education research speaks of category-building, a reference is usually made to "induction". The empirical confirmation of existing laws would also occure inductively, as is the data also collected inductively. The ambiguous use of this term contradicts a unified understanding of the logic of research. With reference to the American philosopher Charles Sanders Pierce, an alternative theory of knowledge acquisition through "abduction" has been discussed recently. This paper contributes to this debate. A unified and (logic-)philosophically adequate reflexion of results of investigations from interpretative social research will be proffered using a structural look at the process of knowledge acquisition and securing knowledge. © VS-Verlag 2009.