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Positivism v Interpretivism Positivism Believe that it is possible and desirable to apply the logic and methods of the natural sciences to the study of society. This will bring us true, objective knowledge of the same type as that found in the natural sciences. This will provide the basis for solving social problems and achieving process. Reality is patterned and we can observe these factual patterns. ‘Real laws are desirable’ – will explain these patterns. Sociologists can discover laws that determine how society works. This is known as induction. It involves accumulating data about the world through careful observation and measurement. As our knowledge grows we begin to see general patterns. From this we can develop a theory which explains all our observations so far. Inductive reasoning claims to verify a theory – this is known as verification. Positivist sociologists seek to discover the causes of patterns they observe. They aim to produce general statements or scientific laws about how society works. These can then be used to predict future events and to guide social policies. Positivists favour ‘macro’ or structural approaches such as functionalism and Marxism. This is because ‘macro’ theories see society and its structures as social facts that exist outside of us and shape our behaviour patterns. Use Durkheim’s study of suicide in exam questions to help illustrate the positivist approach to studying social behaviour. Positivist Research They prefer experimental methods as they allow them to test a hypothesis in the most systematic and controlled way. They use quantitative data to uncover and measure patterns of behaviour. They believe researchers should be detached and objective and should not let their own subjective feelings and values influence how they conduct their research in any way. To allow for maximum objectivity and detachment they use questionnaires, structured interviews, structured nonparticipant observation and official statistics. These methods also produce reliable data that can be checked by other researchers conducting research. Verstehen and qualitative research Interpretivists reject the logic and methods of the natural sciences. Arguing that to discover the meanings people give to their actions, we need to see the world from their point of view. They abandon the detachment and objectivity favoured by positivists. We must put ourselves in the place of the actor, using empathetic understanding to grasp their meanings. Therefore they favour the use of qualitative methods and data such as participant observation, unstructured interviews and personal documents Producing richer, more personal data, high in validity which gives a subjective understanding of the actor’s meanings. Use Douglas and Atkinson’s work on suicide in exam questions to help illustrate the Interpretivist approach Interpretivism Interpretivist sociologists do not believe that sociology should model itself on natural sciences. This theory includes action theories, such as interactionism and ethnomethodology. They criticize positivism’s ‘scientific’ approach. Subject Matter Subject matter of sociology is meaningful social action and we can only understand successfully interpreting the meanings and motives of the actors involved. Sociology is about internal meanings, not external causes. Sociology is not a science, only deals with laws of cause and effect and not human beings. Argue that there s a fundamental difference between the subject matter of the natural sciences and that of sociology. Natural science studies matter which has no consciousness. Its behaviour can be explained as a straight forward reaction to an external stimulus. For example, an apple falls to the ground due to the force of gravity. Sociology studies people who do have consciousness. People make sense of the world by attracting meanings to it. Their actions can only be understood in terms of these meanings. Unlike matter people have free will to exercise choice. G.H.Mead – rather than responding automatically to external stimuli, human beings interpret the meaning of a stimulus and then choose how to respond. Individuals are not puppets on a string, manipulated by supposed external ‘social facts’ as positivists believe, but autonomous beings who construct their social world through the meanings they give to it. The jobs of sociologists are to uncover these meanings. © jmaloney: www.esociology.co.uk Thanks to my students Yr 13 2010 for producing this Sophie, Sophie, Josh, Rachel, Emily, Dani, Hollie, Matt, Jo, Charlie, Martin, Liam, Eliza, Chelsie Lloyd