Inquiry method

Inquiry Method is a theory which was propounded by John Dewey where he postulated that Inquiry based learning starts by posing questions, problems or scenarios rather than simply presenting established facts or portraying a smooth path to knowledge.

The Dewey’s enquiry method provides the theoretical basis of his ideas in education. According to John Dewey in his book about the inquiry method( 1938 page 104-105) defines inquiry thus “ Inquiry is the controlled or directed transformation of an indeterminate situation into one that is so determined in its constituent distinctions and relations as to convert the elements of original situation into a unified whole.”

Dewey’s theory of inquiry rejected earlier empiricist and rationalist models in favor of understanding the achievement of knowledge from naturalistic and developmental perspective. Dewey termed the inquiry method as “instrumentalism”.

Dewey described inquiry method in terms of stages which are such as emergence of doubt grounded in problematic situation, observation of conditions that form elements of the nature of the problem also known as induction, suggestion of possible solution to the problem, reasoning or deduction and implementation of solution. This pattern has been called the scientific method according to Brosio, 1972 and Johnston 2006.