Positivism Flashcards
What is positivism?
An approach to social research which aims to be as close to the natural sciences as possible
What do positivists believe about society?
Social facts shape and determine the social actions of people
What did Durkheim’s suicide study report?
Society shapes people- social facts control people. Suicide was largely due to social factors NOT psychological factors
How is behaviour being patterned significant?
We can see trends in behaviour, due to the social structure we are placed in. Behaviour is predictable
What do functionalists believe about behaviour?
Society and its social institutions have socialised people into a value consensus
What do marxists believe about behaviour?
Social class influences: educational achievement, job opportunities, life expectancy, cause of death
What is quantitative data?
Data in numerical form/statistics (focus on quantity)
What are some examples of quantitative data?
- Structured interviews (primary)
- Questionnaires (primary)
- Non-participant observation (primary)
- Official and non-official stats (secondary)
