2.1 Approaches to Research Flashcards
What is a positivists view of society?
It is outside of us, it shapes and controls our behaviour
How does society control our behaviour? (Positivists)
Through socialising us into the same norms and values
What are the names of the two approaches to research?
Positivism
Interpretivism
What is an interpretivists view of society?
Society is just individuals interacting with each other
What do interpretivists believe about individuals and behaviour?
We are conscious beings with free will, we interpret the behaviour of others and choose how to behave
What is the positivists view of the individual?
Passive products of society
According to positivist what is human behaviour?
Predictable
(Positivists) If behaviour is predictable…
… It can be measured, explained and generalisations can be made
According to positivists, what is the aim of sociology…
… To generalise about the rules and laws which influence human behaviour
According to interpretivists to understand behaviour what must sociologists do?
Attempt to get inside the consciousness of individuals do understand how they interpret the world, to then understand their behaviour
What research methods do positivists prefer?
Large scale quantitative methods
What is quantitative data?
Numerical data that is quick and easy to analyse
Give examples of quantitative methods:
Structured interviews
Statistics
Questionnaires
What sort of data do positivists want?
Reliable, representative data that is objective
What do positivists look at with regard to data?
Drawing patterns, correlations, cause and effect relationships, generalisations
