1 What is Positivism? Flashcards

1
Q

methodology

A

a way of obtaining knowledge thru a set of principles and instructions that guide research from questioning to presenting findings; tells you how to think about a topic and how to generate knowledge on it

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2
Q

positivism

A

current dominant methodology in social sciences; follows empiricist ontology and epistemology

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3
Q

ontology

A

the study of what is reality

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4
Q

empiricist ontology

A

ppl and the reality they perceive are separate from each other; what you observe is what is real, which is made possible due to the separation between the observation and the object

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5
Q

epistemology

A

the study of knowing

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6
Q

empiricist epistemology

A

knowledge is derived from observation of the real world; observation and measurement are the primary ways to obtain knowledge about the topics that interest us; since the nature of reality is that you observe and understand it, we generate knowledge thru observation and measuring of such

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7
Q

characteristics of positivist methodology

A
  • empiricism
  • determinism
  • objectivity/neutral observation
  • certainty
  • correspondence theory of truth
  • replication
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8
Q

empiricism

A

knowledge about reality is obtained thru observations

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9
Q

determinism

A

everything that you observe has a cause and that you can figure out this cause with a lot of precision

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10
Q

objectivity/neutral observation

A

the observer is objective and neutral to limit their effects on the object and to limit biases

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11
Q

certainty

A

we can be certain about what we observe

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12
Q

correspondence theory of truth

A

measurements of observations faithfully reflect reality; any measurement corresponds to the truth

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13
Q

replication

A

if an experiment is conducted in the same manner and circumstances as the original, then the same results, observations, and conclusions should be made; when findings are replicated, this strengthens the initial claim

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14
Q

scientific method

A

for positivists, it can be applied to understand society and social phenomena

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15
Q

positivism and the scientific method

A
  1. identification of a question
  2. formulation of a hypothesis based on the research question
  3. decision on procedure to test hypothesis
  4. performance of the test of the hypothesis
  5. derive conclusion about the hypothesis from the test
  6. report conclusion
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16
Q

interpretivism

A

catch-all term for a group of methodologies that operate on the view that ‘reality doesn’t exist independent of individuals and that also knowledge is socially constructed’; emerged as a critique of positivism

17
Q

what interpretivists argue

A
  • observations are filtered thru individual experiences, circumstances, and contexts, which means that since observers are diff, then observations will be diff
  • advises researchers to interpret social reality in light of their own lived experiences
  • precise and objective observation of social reality is impossible
18
Q

the interpretivist critique of positivism (why society isn’t like a rotting apple)

A
  • rejects empiricism
  • sees determinism as reductionist
  • questions objectivity/neutral observation
  • skeptical of certainty/correspondence theory of truth
  • unsure of need for replication
19
Q

rejects empiricism

A

you cannot separate the researcher from the object of research

20
Q

sees determinism as reductionist

A

not everything in society boils down to a simple cause and effect relationship; assuming that there’s a singular cause would be too reductionist since society is complex and social phenomena happen simultaneously

21
Q

questions objectivity/neutral observation

A

researchers aren’t neutral, as their observations are affected by their experiences; they should thus foreground their bias and consciously interpret their object of study thru this lens since interpretivism embraces subjectivity

22
Q

skeptical of certainty/correspondence theory of truth

A

exact measurement of the object is impossible, so research is more about defensible knowledge claims that are always quite uncertain; things are more abstract which means that truth isn’t bound by concrete measurements and objective observations

23
Q

unsure of need for replication

A

it’s acceptable and desirable for researchers to examine the same thing and come to completely diff conclusions bc. this allows for a diversity of ideas about the social reality; a lack of replicability allows a multiplicity of interpretations, thus contributing to wider knowledge and enhanced discourse

24
Q

political science

A

the positivist approach to politics

25
Q

political studies

A

the interpretivist perspective of politics