Positivism and Interpretivism Flashcards
Positivism
What is positivism?
- a scientific method
- linked to physical experience
- we should treat people as objects that can be observed and measured
Positivism
Is positivism qualitative or quantitative?
Quantitative
Positivism
What does positivism focus on?
Patterns and trends
Positivism
Is positivism a macro or micro perspective?
Macro as it looks at people on a large scale
Positivism
What are the strengths of positivism?
- aims to make research scientific
- science is credible
- investigates society and creates scientific laws into how we operate
Positivism
What are the weaknesses of positivism?
- ignores free will, choice and experiences
- views people as societies puppets
- argued that society cant be scientifically viewed
Positivism
What is a key study for positivism?
Emile Durkheims ‘Le Suicide’ 1897
Interpretivism
What is interpretivism?
- rejects scientific sociology
- humans are not objects and have free will
- looks at the importance of how people make sense of the social world
Interpretivism
Is interpretivism qualitative or quantitative?
Qualitative
Interpretivism
Is interpretivism usually a macro or micro perspective?
micro
Interpretivism
What does interpretivism focus on?
Meanings and experiences
Interpretivism
What are the strengths of Interpretivism?
- truth can be subjective so there is always variety
- society cant be studied scientifically
- offers insight into how meanings and experiences affect people
Interpretivism
What are the weaknesses of Interpretivism?
- patterns and trands are needed for generalisability
- high chance of demand characterstics and researcher imposition
Interpretivism
What is empathy?
Ability to imagine others experiences and share understanding
Interpretivism
What is Rapport?
Relationship with trust and ease of communication which is important in interpretivism
Interpretivism
What term did Weber use?
Verstehen - to understand and have empathy with research subjects
What is reflexivity?
A researcher reflecting on how they couldve affected research
How can researchers reflect?
- consider extent of demand characteristics
- consider how demographics may affect findings
- reflect on own theoretical bias
