Download Positivism-v-Interpretivism

Positivism v Interpretivism
Positivism
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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
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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